Americanism

American  

[uh-mer-i-kuh-niz-uhm] / əˈmɛr ɪ kəˌnɪz əm /

noun

1. a custom, trait, belief, etc., peculiar to the United States of America or its citizens.

2. 1. a word, phrase, or other language feature that is especially characteristic of the English language as spoken or written in the U.S.

   2. such a word or phrase first recorded in American English.

3. devotion to or preference for the U.S. and its institutions.

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Americanism British  

/ əˈmɛrɪkəˌnɪzəm /

noun

1. a custom, linguistic usage, or other feature peculiar to or characteristic of the United States, its people, or their culture

2. loyalty to the United States, its people, customs, etc

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Other Word Forms

• anti-Americanism noun
• pro-Americanism noun

Etymology

Origin of Americanism

First recorded in 1775–85; American + -ism

Example Sentences

The offensive word in question was once an Americanism used to describe having been cheated, swindled or deceived.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 15, 2023

But “he was a towering figure on the federal bench,” Shirley Povich wrote in a 1940 Washington Post profile, “the most spectacular legal light in the land, his integrity unquestioned, his burning Americanism unchallenged.”

From Washington Post • Apr. 9, 2022

They capture pride in country and an honest-to-goodness Americanism in an engaging, down-to-earth way for all citizens of our country — for people of all ages, races, creeds, backgrounds, beliefs, and locations.

From Fox News • Jan. 30, 2022

Du Bois explores the concept of self through the lens of Africanism and Americanism.

From Textbooks • Dec. 21, 2021

To use an Americanism, he had “taken no chances,” and the absolute accuracy with which his instructions were fulfilled, was simply the logical result of his care.

From "Dracula" by Bram Stoker