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

Ken Kober, police union president, said the understudy program can help reduce culture shock for people who decide to enter law enforcement. —David Ferrara, Cincinnati Enquirer, 3 Nov. 2025

There was a chill in the air, but for Liverpool’s midfielder, newly arrived from Spain, the real culture shock was what happened on the pitch. —Oliver Kay, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025

On the culture shock of having money Medical attention is such a luxury to so many people. —Terry Gross, NPR, 29 Sep. 2025

Bob's Olive Garden mix-up isn't the first time an American has shared a culture shock after going on vacation. —Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 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