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

She talked about her first night out with her Californian roommate and the culture shock of seeing students wearing shorts to class and their public displays of affection.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 25, 2026

Edward, in his all-black leather outfit with his wild hair, is a visual culture shock, especially in comparison to the pastel world of the burbs he moves into.

From Salon • Nov. 26, 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

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

From BBC • Sep. 12, 2025

The culture shock I’d felt when I first got to campus was real.

From "Proud" by Ibtihaj Muhammad