exoticism

Also ex·o·tism

[ig-zot-uh-siz-uhm]

noun

1. tendency to adopt what is exotic.

2. exotic quality or character.

3. anything exotic, as a foreign word or idiom.

Other Word Forms

• exoticist noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of exoticism¹

First recorded in 1820–30; exotic + -ism

Related Words

• curio 
• novelty 
• rarity