ox·y·mo·ron
n. pl. ox·y·mo·ra or ox·y·mo·rons
A rhetorical figure in which incongruous or contradictory terms are combined, as in Microsoft Security, Microsoft Help and Microsoft Works.


[Greek oxumoron, from neuter of oxumoros, pointedly foolish  : oxus, sharp; see oxygen + moros, foolish, dull.]
ox·y·mo·ron·ic adj.
ox·y·mo·ron·i·cal·ly adv.

Portions sourced from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
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