noun
neologism
nee-OL-uh-jiz-um
Neologism (noun) means a word or phrase that has recently been coined. Example: “The magazine article was full of neologisms that few readers had seen before.”
noun
1
A word or phrase that has recently been coined.
"The magazine article was full of neologisms that few readers had seen before."
"Selfie was once a neologism, but it is now an ordinary word."
"She enjoys inventing neologisms for her poems."
2
An existing word or phrase that has taken on a new meaning.
"Using the word cloud for online storage was a neologism in this sense."
"Linguists track neologisms of this kind as they spread."
"The dictionary added several neologisms to its latest edition."
How to use neologism
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA brand-new word or phrase, or an old word given a new meaning.
When to use it
It is a fairly formal word, common in writing about language.
Easily confused with
protologism
neology
Common pairings
coin a neologism
a recent neologism
invent a neologism
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Etymology
The word came into English from French néologisme. The French was built from Ancient Greek néos, meaning new, and lógos, meaning word, with the suffix -ism.
Synonyms
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coinage
neology
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for neologism
See all rhymes for neologism →Frequently asked questions
What is a neologism?
A neologism is a newly coined word or phrase. It can also be an old word that has gained a new meaning.
How long does a word stay a neologism?
There is no fixed point at which a word ceases to be new, though many people treat about fifteen to twenty years as the usual limit.
What is the difference between a neologism and a protologism?
A protologism is a coinage that has not yet become common, whereas a neologism is a new word that may have spread more widely.
What is the meaning of neologism?
"neologism" (noun) means a word or phrase that has recently been coined.
