solecism

[ sol-uh-siz-uhm, soh-luh- ]

See synonyms for: solecism solecistic on Thesaurus.com

noun

a nonstandard or ungrammatical usage, as unflammable and they was.
a breach of good manners or etiquette.

any error, impropriety, or inconsistency.

Origin of solecism

First recorded in 1570–80; from Latin soloecismus “grammatical mistake,” from Greek soloikismós “incorrect use of language” (whether of individual words or in syntax), equivalent to sóloik(os), adjective formed from Sólo(i) (a city in Cilicia founded by Doric-speaking Greeks from Rhodes, whose local dialect Athenians considered corrupt) + -ik(os) + -ismos; see -ic,-ism

Other words from solecism

sol·e·cist, noun
sol·e·cis·tic, sol·e·cis·ti·cal, adjective
sol·e·cis·ti·cal·ly, adverb

Words that may be confused with solecism

solecism , solipsism

Words Nearby solecism

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use solecism in a sentence

Do not even consider committing the solecism of serving it with parmigiano.
5 Recipes for Holiday Cheer | Cookstr.com | December 1, 2009 | THE DAILY BEAST
The party was given especially in her honour, and to omit her from any description of it would be an unpardonable solecism.
A Charming Fellow, Volume II (of 3) | Frances Eleanor Trollope
It cut them down to vassals, but, by a legal solecism, they were regarded as a sort of free vassals.
The Indian in his Wigwam | Henry R. Schoolcraft
For a free and extended empire on a continent are incompatible: to think they are not is a perfect solecism in politicks.
The Justice and Necessity of Taxing the American Colonies, Demonstrated | Unknown
The fair city of Perth is a solecism in point of site, and many a flooding it gets in consequence.
Chambers's Edinburgh Journal, No. 440 | Various

Let us try the test of an expression somewhat kindred in etymology: such a word as would carry upon its face a damning solecism.
Studies on Homer and the Homeric Age, Vol. 1 of 3 | W. E. Gladstone

British Dictionary definitions for solecism

solecism

/ (ˈsɒlɪˌsɪzəm) /

noun

- the nonstandard use of a grammatical construction
- any mistake, incongruity, or absurdity
a violation of good manners

Origin of solecism

C16: from Latin soloecismus, from Greek soloikismos, from soloikos speaking incorrectly, from Soloi an Athenian colony of Cilicia where the inhabitants spoke a corrupt form of Greek

Derived forms of solecism

solecist, noun
solecistic or solecistical, adjective
solecistically, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Browse