An oxymoron (plural oxymorons or, more rarely, oxymora) is a figure of speech that combines two normally contradictory terms.

Oxymoron is a loanword from Greek oxy ("sharp" or "pointed") and moros ("dull"). Thus the word oxymoron is itself an oxymoron.

Oxymorons are a proper subset of the expressions called contradictions in terms.

What distinguishes oxymorons from other paradoxes and contradictions is that they are used intentionally, for rhetorical effect, and the contradiction is only apparent, as the combination of terms provides a novel expression of some concept, such as "cruel to be kind".

In other words:

An oxymoron is a condensed form of paradox in which two contradictory words are used together, as in "sweet sorrow" or "original copy."

In popular usage, the term oxymoron is sometimes used more loosely, in the sense of a simple contradiction in terms.

Often, it is then applied to expressions which, unlike real oxymorons, are used in full earnest and without any sense of paradox by many speakers in everyday language.

Comedian George Carlin brought many of these to popular attention in his album "Toledo Window Box" and in his live comedy routines.

• "With all deliberate speed" (i.e. "go quickly slowly")
• Pretty ugly
• Alone together
• Liberal conservative
• Same difference
• Jumbo shrimp
• Random Order
• Organized Chaos
• civil war