neologism
Americannoun
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a new word, meaning, usage, or phrase.
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the introduction or use of new words or new senses of existing words.
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a new doctrine, especially a new interpretation of sacred writings.
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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.
noun
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a newly coined word, or a phrase or familiar word used in a new sense
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the practice of using or introducing neologisms
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rare a tendency towards adopting new views, esp rationalist views, in matters of religion
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.
Vocabulary lists containing neologism
Brand Spankin' New: Words with Neo- and Nov-
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Literary Devices & Figures of Speech - Advanced
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Reading: Literature - Literary Devices & Figures of Speech - High School
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
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
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 • Jun. 7, 2024
The psychological neologism can range in meaning from the feeling of anticipated loss to outright trauma from climate change.
From Washington Times • Feb. 19, 2023
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
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
