neologism

American  

[nee-ol-uh-jiz-uhm] / niˈɒl əˌdʒɪz əm /

noun

1. a new word, meaning, usage, or phrase.

2. the introduction or use of new words or new senses of existing words.

3. a new doctrine, especially a new interpretation of sacred writings.

4. Psychiatry. a new word, often consisting of a combination of other words, that is understood only by the speaker: occurring most often in the speech of schizophrenics.

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neologism British  

/ ˌnɪəˈlɒdʒɪkəl, nɪˈɒləˌdʒɪzəm /

noun

1. a newly coined word, or a phrase or familiar word used in a new sense

2. the practice of using or introducing neologisms

3. rare a tendency towards adopting new views, esp rationalist views, in matters of religion

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Other Word Forms

• neologist noun
• neologistic adjective
• neologistical adjective
• neologistically adverb

Etymology

Origin of neologism

From the French word néologisme, dating back to 1790–1800. See neology, -ism

Example Sentences

A lot of the entries are related to social media and the internet, and there are even some freshly minted Gen Alpha neologisms.

From The Wall Street Journal

A critic faulted Webster’s Third in the 1960s for its “extreme tolerance of crude neologisms.”

From The Wall Street Journal

Wilson Follett, the author of “Modern American Usage,” complained about its “extreme tolerance of crude neologisms and of shabby diction generally.”

From The Wall Street Journal

Sabrina Carpenter, “Espresso” “Me espresso” may end up the year’s best pop neologism — but let’s not overlook the linguistic invention in “Walked in and dream-came-true’d it for you.”

From Los Angeles Times

The caffeinated drink of the summer isn’t cold brew or iced matcha — it’s “me espresso,” a weird and strangely brilliant neologism coined by the pop singer Sabrina Carpenter in her ascendant hit “Espresso.”

From New York Times