Oxymoron

An oxymoron consists of two words that seem to contradict (go against, or be the opposite of) each other, or actually do contradict each other.

For example, the words "Wise fool", "Warm freezer", "Legal murder" each have two words. In each case, the one word appears to be the opposite of the other word.

It is possible to have words that seem to contradict each other, but where it is possible and correct to place am together. For example, the "warm freezer" may actually be possible. It would occur if the freezer was not working and it was in the warm place.

Words that actually do contradict each other, would be words which are logically or physically impossible when placed together. For example, the "circular square" is physically impossible.

Because of the tension between the words, oxymorons often appear in jokes. Sometimes, the joke is simply to claim that certain pairs of words are an oxymoron. For example, the common joke says that "military intelligence" is an oxymoron. This plays with two meanings of "intelligence": (1) intellect, use of the brain and (2) knowledge, especially knowledge about an enemy country.

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