culture shock

noun

: a sense of confusion and uncertainty sometimes with feelings of anxiety that may affect people exposed to an unfamiliar culture or environment without adequate preparation

Examples of culture shock in a Sentence

Foreign students often experience culture shock when they first come to the U.S.

Moving to the city was a huge culture shock for him.

Recent Examples on the Web

Ekitike and Wirtz, who have struck up a bond off the pitch, found the physicality and intensity of Premier League football a culture shock. —James Pearce, New York Times, 1 Feb. 2026

Every culture shock was a positive one. —Celia Fernandez raffi Paul, CNBC, 22 Jan. 2026

Another culture shock from her time in Paris? —Tabitha Parent, PEOPLE, 25 Dec. 2025

At least in the short term, the culture shock for the cable side of the business would be most severe if the Paramount plan succeeds. —Josef Adalian, Vulture, 11 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1932, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for culture shock

• electroshock
• aftershock
• antiknock
• arawak
• hollyhock
• interlock
• isopach
• manioc
• shuttlecock
• tomahawk
• weathercock
• alcock

Medical Definition

culture shock

noun

: a sense of confusion and uncertainty sometimes with feelings of anxiety that may affect people exposed to an alien culture or environment without adequate preparation