slip of the tongue

a minor error in speech, such as a spoonerism, that is episodic and not related to a speech disorder or a stage of second-language acquisition. Psychoanalysts have long been interested in the significance of such slips, referring to them as Freudian slips and believing them to reveal unconscious associations, motivations, or wishes. Also called lapsus linguae; speech error. See also parapraxis; verbal leakage.

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Psychology term of the day

February 23rd 2025

Krause end bulb

a specialized sensory nerve ending enclosed in a capsule in the skin. It is associated with temperature sensations. [Wilhelm Krause (1833–1910), German anatomist]