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  

/ 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

Explanation

A neologism is a made-up or new word. Neologisms can be fun-ti-ful, but the problem is making sure others understand what you mean. The word neologism was once a neologism itself. It was created by gluing the prefix neo-, "new," onto the Greek root logos or "word." People coin neologisms all the time, linguists track which ones stick, and eventually, we all feel they're old friends. Or maybe not: random samples from words coined in 2003 include: adultolescence, pastability, pre-zactly, and neomaxizoomdweebie.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

neologism

They’re believers in rancho libertarianism, my neologism for the individualistic politics exemplified by the Mexican men who raised me and who I grew up with.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 25, 2026

It is called Tanbreez, a neologism that refers to tantalum, niobium, rare-earth elements and zirconium.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026

Pretty much every internet user has seen this occur in some form, which is why Doctorow’s neologism took off so widely.

From Slate ● Oct. 13, 2025

Though it didn’t appear in print until 1984, and though others have also been credited with the neologism, Ms. Loden claimed authorship of what became an enduring metaphor.

From New York Times ● Sep. 3, 2022

My father says he is a nauseating commercial neologism.

From "Cat's Eye" by Margaret Atwood