neologism

noun

ne·​ol·​o·​gism nē-ˈä-lə-ˌji-zəm 

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

neologistic

nē-ˌä-lə-ˈji-stik 

adjective

Did you know?

The English language is constantly picking up neologisms. In recent decades, for example, social media has added a number of new terms to the language. Finsta, rizz, influencer, meme, and doomscroll 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 in the latter half of the 18th century, when English speakers borrowed the French term néologisme, meaning both "the habit of forming new words" and "a newly formed word." The French term, which comes from néologie, meaning "coining of new words," comprises familiar elements: we recognize our own neo-, with various meanings relating to what is new, as in neoclassical, and -logy, meaning "oral or written expression," as in trilogy.

Examples of neologism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In spite of its phonetics, apparently the term is not Yiddish, but a neologism declared by a French writer of comedic phantasms to be German and intended to designate an absurd, unfathomable object that can serve all kinds of purposes. —Benjamin H. D. Buchloh, Artforum, 1 June 2025

Now, without finding a new emblem to rally behind, Democrats may be doing little more than battling that other neologism: MAGA. —Kevin M. Schultz, The Conversation, 8 May 2025

The term is not recognized in standard dictionaries and appears to be a neologism coined by Trump. —Gordon G. Chang, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Apr. 2025

Ever since Elon Musk bought X, the platform’s production of novel slang, metonyms, catchphrases, and other neologisms has fallen precipitously. —Dan Brooks, The Atlantic, 21 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1772, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for neologism

• activism
• ageism
• albinism
• altruism
• aneurism
• animism
• aphorism
• atomism
• barbarism
• bolshevism
• botulism
• brahmanism

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!

Kids Definition

neologism

noun

ne·​ol·​o·​gism nē-ˈäl-ə-ˌjiz-əm 

: a new word or expression

neologistic

-ˌäl-ə-ˈjis-tik 

adjective

Medical Definition

neologism

noun

ne·​ol·​o·​gism nē-ˈäl-ə-ˌjiz-əm 

: 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