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neologism

noun ne·ol·o·gism \ nē-ˈä-lə-ˌji-zəm \
|Updated on: 18 May 2018

Definition of neologism

1 : a new word, usage, or expression
  • technological neologisms
2 psychology : a new word that is coined especially by a person affected with schizophrenia and is meaningless except to the coiner, and is typically a combination of two existing words or a shortening or distortion of an existing word
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neologistic

play \nē-ˌä-lə-ˈji-stik\ adjective

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Recent Examples of neologism from the Web

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'neologism.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Did You Know?

The English language is constantly picking up neologisms. Recently, for example, computer technology has added a number of new terms to the language. "Webinar," "malware," "netroots," and "blogosphere" are just a few examples of modern-day neologisms that have been integrated into American English. The word neologism was itself a brand-new coinage at the beginning of the 19th century, when English speakers first borrowed it from the French nèologisme. Its roots, however, are quite old. Ultimately, "neologism" comes from Greek neos (meaning "new") and "logos" (meaning "word").

Origin and Etymology of neologism

borrowed from French néologisme "the habit of forming new words, a newly formed word," from néologie "coining of new words" (from néo- neo- + -logie -logy) + -isme -ism

NEOLOGISM Defined for English Language Learners

neologism

noun

Definition of neologism for English Language Learners

  • : a new word or expression or a new meaning of a word

Medical Dictionary

neologism

noun ne·ol·o·gism \ nē-ˈäl-ə-ˌjiz-əm \

medical Definition of neologism

: a new word that is coined especially by a person affected with schizophrenia, is meaningless except to the coiner, and is typically a combination of two existing words or a shortening or distortion of an existing word

Learn More about neologism

  1. See words that rhyme with neologism Spanish Central: Translation of neologism Nglish: Translation of neologism for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of neologism for Arabic speakers

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