neologize

American  

[nee-ol-uh-jahyz] / niˈɒl əˌdʒaɪz /

especially British, neologise

verb (used without object)

neologized, neologizing

1. to make or use new words or create new meanings for existing words.

2. to devise or accept new religious doctrines.

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neologize British  

/ nɪˈɒləˌdʒaɪz /

verb

1. (intr) to invent or use neologisms

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Etymology

Origin of neologize

First recorded in 1840–50; neolog(y) + -ize

Explanation

To neologize is to invent a brand-new word, the way various writers did when they coined words like robot, blockbuster, and hangry. The verb neologize comes from neologism, "new word or expression," which was neologized itself in the 18th century using the prefix neo-, "new," and the Greek logos, or "word." Writers and speakers neologize constantly, coming up with words to describe new ideas, cultural innovations, or technology. Many of these words are used briefly before fading away, while others catch on and become dictionary standards (think grok, gaslighting, or blog).

Example Sentences

And give the word neologism to our language, as a root, and it should give us its fellow substantives, neology, neologist, neologization; its adjectives, neologous, neological, neologistical; its verb, neologize; and adverb neologically.

From Memoir, Correspondence, And Miscellanies, From The Papers Of Thomas Jefferson, Volume 4 by Randolph, Thomas Jefferson