neologism

[ nee-ol-uh-jiz-uhm ]

noun

1. a new word, meaning, usage, or phrase.
2. the introduction or use of new words or new senses of existing words.
3. a new doctrine, especially a new interpretation of sacred writings.
4. Psychiatry. a new word, often consisting of a combination of other words, that is understood only by the speaker: occurring most often in the speech of schizophrenics.

neologism

/ ˌnɪəˈlɒdʒɪkəl; nɪˈɒləˌdʒɪzəm /

noun

1. a newly coined word, or a phrase or familiar word used in a new sense
2. the practice of using or introducing neologisms
3. rare.
   a tendency towards adopting new views, esp rationalist views, in matters of religion

Derived Forms

• neˌoloˈgistic, adjective
• neˌoloˈgistically, adverb
• neˈologist, noun

Other Words From

• ne·olo·gist noun
• ne·olo·gistic ne·olo·gisti·cal adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of neologism¹

From the French word néologisme, dating back to 1790–1800. See neology, -ism

Word History and Origins

Origin of neologism¹

C18: via French from neo- + -logism, from Greek logos word, saying

Example Sentences

It inspired endless debate, countless think pieces, and a neologism that instantly penetrated mainstream culture.

From The Daily Beast

In the blink of an eye a neologism was formed, half Turkish, half English.

From The Daily Beast

Witness the ridiculous neologism “Jew-washing”—the latest, Jewiest entry in the “No True Scotsman” competition.

From The Daily Beast

Captology is a neologism coined by BJ Fogg, director of the very Soviet-sounding Stanford Persuasive Technology Lab.

From The Daily Beast

The label stuck, and a search for “santorum” delivers the neologism first.

From The Daily Beast

Rossetti's "Yester-year" moreover, is an absurd and affected neologism; "Antan" is an excellent and living French word.

From Project Gutenberg

In this one ordinary speech seemed to have been insufficient to describe the blotch, and he had to resort to a neologism.

From Project Gutenberg

But it observed a very high standard of classical English, a little intolerant of neologism, but not stiff nor jejune.

From Project Gutenberg

The locution of which we have made use—passed to the state of—has been condemned as a neologism by M. Royer Collard.

From Project Gutenberg

But if dictionaries are to be the arbiters of language, in which of them shall we find neologism?

From Project Gutenberg