Britishism

American  

[brit-i-shiz-uhm] / ˈbrɪt ɪˌʃɪz əm /

noun

1. Briticism.

2. any custom, manner, characteristic, or quality peculiar to or associated with the British people.

3. the aggregate of such qualities regarded as characteristic of a British person.

   His cool reserve is just part of his Britishism.

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Britishism British  

/ ˈbrɪtɪˌʃɪzəm /

noun

1. a variant of Briticism

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Etymology

Origin of Britishism

First recorded in 1880–85; British + -ism

Example Sentences

Both leaders were asked whether the monarchy was “fit for purpose,” a Britishism for something well-suited for its designated role.

From Washington Post • Nov. 19, 2019

“It’s a Britishism: pike, as in a large road.”

From The New Yorker • Aug. 20, 2018

When asked if this was an arcane Britishism, he replied, “No. It’s autocorrect gone mad.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 15, 2016

“The 21st-century ‘chattering classes’ — which is itself a Britishism — are the most significant perpetrators of this trend,” he added.

From New York Times • Oct. 10, 2012

My research has actually led me to propose a year when bumbershoot changed from U.S. regional slang to presumed Britishism: 1939.

From Slate • Nov. 4, 2011