culture shock

American  

noun

1. a state of bewilderment and distress experienced by an individual who is suddenly exposed to a new, strange, or foreign social and cultural environment.

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culture shock British  

noun

1. sociol the feelings of isolation, rejection, etc, experienced when one culture is brought into sudden contact with another, as when a primitive tribe is confronted by modern civilization

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culture shock Idioms  

1. A state of confusion and anxiety experienced by someone upon encountering an alien environment. For example, It's not just jet lag—it's the culture shock of being in a new country. This term was first used by social scientists to describe, for example, the experience of a person moving from the country to a big city. It is now used more loosely, as in the example. [Late 1930s]

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Other Word Forms

• culture-shocked adjective

Etymology

Origin of culture shock

First recorded in 1955–60

Example Sentences

This culture shock played out a different way with the students Tran taught English to in Vietnam.

From Salon • Dec. 31, 2025

Patel’s presence at the bureau has been something of a culture shock for a buttoned-up workforce, used to wearing suits and ties.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 12, 2025

It was the biggest culture shock of my life.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 30, 2025

But at a recent gathering she had a "culture shock" when she realised she was actually the oldest attendee.

From BBC • Sep. 12, 2025

I’ll never forget Adele’s experience with culture shock at a high school track meet.

From "How Dare the Sun Rise" by Sandra Uwiringiyimana