Pun

A pun (play on words) is a stylistic device built on the comic or witty juxtaposition of words similar in sound but different in meaning, on the play upon polysemy or homonymy. A pun creates an unexpected semantic effect when two different meanings of a word or units similar in sound collide in one context, generating humour, irony or satire. This play on words demands linguistic inventiveness and a fine sense of shades of meaning, and is therefore considered a mark of wit. The pun is widely represented in humour, satire, the epigram, comedic dialogue, children's literature and advertising. It is closely linked to homonymy, paronymy and the polysemy of the word and belongs to the most vivid manifestations of a creative, playful attitude toward language.