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

Other Word Forms

• neologist noun
• neologistic adjective
• neologistical adjective
• neologistically adverb

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

A critic faulted Webster’s Third in the 1960s for its “extreme tolerance of crude neologisms.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Wilson Follett, the author of “Modern American Usage,” complained about its “extreme tolerance of crude neologisms and of shabby diction generally.”

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Sabrina Carpenter, “Espresso” “Me espresso” may end up the year’s best pop neologism — but let’s not overlook the linguistic invention in “Walked in and dream-came-true’d it for you.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The caffeinated drink of the summer isn’t cold brew or iced matcha — it’s “me espresso,” a weird and strangely brilliant neologism coined by the pop singer Sabrina Carpenter in her ascendant hit “Espresso.”

Read more on New York Times

Only this weekend he said: “We have languages coming into our country that no one can speak,” a strange grasping for meaning, bordering on neologism.

Read more on Salon