colloquialism

[ kuh-loh-kwee-uh-liz-uhm ]

noun

1. a colloquial expression.
2. colloquial style or usage.

colloquialism

/ kəˈləʊkwɪəˌlɪzəm /

noun

1. a word or phrase appropriate to conversation and other informal situations
2. the use of colloquial words and phrases

Other Words From

• col·loqui·al·ist noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of colloquialism¹

First recorded in 1800–10; colloquial + -ism

Example Sentences

“Shut up,” the hacker responded, using a Farsi colloquialism.

From The Daily Beast

Now “awfully sorry” is not a western colloquialism, and the girl looked at him attentively.

From Project Gutenberg

He must like to figure, to use a colloquialism,18 and his fondness for it must be genuine, almost an absorption.

From Project Gutenberg

For instance, the use of "most" for "almost" is distinctly, if not a vulgarism, at least a colloquialism.

From Project Gutenberg

Every proverb, every slang phrase and colloquialism, is what one might call a petrified inspiration.

From Project Gutenberg

Such a compliment has seldom been paid on so early an attempt at colloquialism in a new language.

From Project Gutenberg