idiomatic

American  

[id-ee-uh-mat-ik] / ˌɪd i əˈmæt ɪk /

Also idiomatical

adjective

1. peculiar to or characteristic of a particular language or dialect.

   idiomatic French.

2. containing or using many idioms.

3. having a distinct style or character, especially in the arts.

   idiomatic writing; an idiomatic composer.

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Other Word Forms

• idiomatically adverb
• idiomaticalness noun
• idiomaticity noun
• nonidiomatic adjective
• nonidiomatical adjective
• nonidiomatically adverb
• nonidiomaticalness noun
• unidiomatic adjective
• unidiomatically adverb

Etymology

Origin of idiomatic

1705–15; < Late Greek idiōmatikós, equivalent to idiōmat- (stem of idíōma ) idiom + -ikos -ic

Example Sentences

Conductor Corrado Rovaris led a sprightly, transparent performance, full of Rossinian sparkle and verve, and the solo musicians, particularly the flutist, were as vivid and idiomatic as the singers.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 1, 2025

I was confident I was being scammed in some way but the idiomatic language and contextual knowledge of Westminster was unsettling.

From BBC • Apr. 8, 2024

Fairy tales, idiomatic expressions, warrior tales all amplified human fear, and led to the systematic extermination of wolves across Britain and Europe.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 28, 2023

This is the version, in this idiomatic translation from the French by Alison L. Strayer, that was not tweaked in postproduction.

From New York Times • Sep. 19, 2022

She sank into the desk chair, thinking cheng yu — idiomatic sayings, the Chinese had a lot of them too.

From "Typical American" by Gish Jen