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

Derived Forms

• pro-Americanism
  noun
• anti-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

The ever-perceptive Matt Bai had it mostly correct in his Feb. 16 Wednesday Opinion column, “I reject both parties’ ideas of Americanism.

From Washington Post • Feb. 18, 2022

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

From Textbooks • Dec. 21, 2021

But the right to say what you want, when you want, how you want is as central to Americanism as any freedom.

From Fox News • Dec. 31, 2019

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