Johnsonian

American  

[jon-soh-nee-uhn] / dʒɒnˈsoʊ ni ən /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of Samuel Johnson or his works.

2. having the quality of Johnsonese.

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noun

1. a person who writes in the Johnsonian style.

2. a teacher or critic who specializes in the works of Samuel Johnson.

Johnsonian British  

/ dʒɒnˈsəʊnɪən /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of Samuel Johnson, his works, or his style of writing

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Other Word Forms

• Johnsonianism
  noun
• post-Johnsonian
  adjective
• Johnsonianly
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of Johnsonian

First recorded in 1785–95; Johnson + -ian

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Johnsonian

This was a very Johnsonian example of self-promotion.

From BBC ● Nov. 7, 2022

Using typical Johnsonian language, he initially dismissed the claims as an “inverted pyramid of piffle” before other evidence emerged.

From Washington Post ● Jul. 7, 2022

In one liquid, very Denis Johnsonian moment, he remarks, in a long sentence that hovers over this collection:

From New York Times ● Jan. 15, 2018

Carney owned his actions by saying what he said was “petty, mean and hurtful” rather than indulging in the weasel words of the Johnsonian faux apology.

From The Guardian ● Dec. 27, 2017

It may therefore be surmised that George Robinson had been right, and that he had understood the ways of British trade when he composed the Johnsonian drama.

From The Struggles of Brown, Jones, and Robinson By One of the Firm by Anthony Trollope