colloquialism

noun

Definition of colloquialismnext
as in dialect
a word or phrase that is used mostly in informal speech; a colloquial expression His English is very good, but he has trouble understanding certain colloquialisms.

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of colloquialism Gestures, colloquialisms, facial expressions, local cuisine, and the like are not incidental to a tongue but constitute it; sometimes, to capture a word or phrase, in writing or in an algorithm, is to stamp out its meaning. — Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 16 Oct. 2025 This could involve helping systems learn colloquialisms and proper usages of terms. — Kathy Kristof, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Mar. 2025 You would be forgiven for assuming this a playful colloquialism, perhaps revealing a tenderness to the hunt. — Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes, 6 Mar. 2025 While Niles’ lack of dialogue and his comedic chops can translate well and lead to worldwide exposure, a character whose appeal depends on English-language jokes and colloquialisms is harder to export. — Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019 See All Example Sentences for colloquialism
Recent Examples of Synonyms for colloquialism
  1. dialect
  2. terminology
  3. language
  4. idiom
  5. vocabulary
  6. slang
Noun
  • The entire film is spoken in the Leshan dialect of Sichuan province.
    — Lin Ying-Hsuan, Variety, 1 Nov. 2026
  • Over years, decades of business logic ended up fluent in a dialect no other database understood.
    — Stephen Messer, Fortune, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of dialect
Noun
  • Tobias Gehrke, a senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, said the disagreement over terminology was unlikely to derail closer cooperation.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 29 Oct. 2026
  • On screen, a third season of Monarch would likely feature new Titans — the Monsterverse terminology for the likes of Godzilla, King Kong and other giant monsters.
    — Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of terminology
Noun
  • The language of the legislation that passed the House calls for an immediate adoption of year-round daylight saving time by rewriting a federal law that sets time across the country.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Chanting in multiple languages filled the room and reverberated all around, the voices of the cantors at the kliros blending with the voices of the collective.
    — Francisco Cantú, New Yorker, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of language
Noun
  • To borrow from a more crude idiom, the Knicks need to shoot or get off the free throw line.
    — Leonard Greene, New York Daily News, 31 Oct. 2026
  • Its palette is broad, moving from comic to straight rap, from Cab Calloway swing to Beyoncé-style ballads, each idiom chosen for its dramatic purpose.
    — Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of idiom
Noun
  • Rouleaux, in the vocabulary of dark-field microscopy, are blood cells that are stacked like pancakes.
    — D. T. Max, New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2026
  • The diagnosis gave a vocabulary and a tangibility to their fears.
    — Kirsten Balin, STAT, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of vocabulary
Noun
  • There’s a level of seriousness that belies the 90-minute comedy film he’s made, which features an imbecilic white rapper who speaks in Caribbean-British slang and a contraption that shoots bullets out of one’s rear end.
    — Lacey Rose, HollywoodReporter, 21 Oct. 2026
  • McCaffrey and the 49ers will return to the United States after their win and lesson in Australian slang to play the Miami Dolphins in Week 2.
    — Ryan Canfield OutKick, FOXNews.com, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of slang

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colloquial
colloquialism
colloquialisms
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Cite this Entry

“Colloquialism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/colloquialism. Accessed 5 Nov. 2026.

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