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
Explore Merriam-Webster
neologism was our Word of the Day on 01/14/2017. Hear the podcast!
Theme music by Joshua Stamper ©2006 New Jerusalem Music/ASCAP
Recent Examples of neologism from the Web
-
Fake news — a neologism to describe stories that are just not true, like Pizzagate, and a term now co-opted to characterize unfavorable news — has given new urgency to the teaching of media literacy.
-
Unaware of any word that could describe her situation, Webster saw an opportunity for neologism.
-
Instead, these books feature a new kind of mutant—wonky business writers endowed with bulging brainpans and killer neologisms.
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
French néologisme, from ne- + log- + -isme -ism
NEOLOGISM Defined for English Language Learners
neologism
playDefinition of neologism for English Language Learners
-
: a new word or expression or a new meaning of a word
Medical Dictionary
neologism
playMedical 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
-
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
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up neologism? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!