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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Recent Examples of colloquialism
Every language has its dialects, and each dialect can have its unique spin on colloquialisms.
—
Victoria Song, The Verge, 24 Jan. 2025
There is even a colloquialism for those who curry favor among the moneyed on the island of Palm Beach.
—Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 8 Jan. 2025
It’s been a year of chaos and colloquialisms, as the internet shaped not only our vocabulary but our entire political system.
—Kate Lindsay, Vulture, 2 Jan. 2025
And, like any colloquialism popularized by an internet trend, celebs, brands and even the president himself cashed in on the sensation.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA TODAY, 28 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for colloquialism
Victoria Song, The Verge, 24 Jan. 2025
There is even a colloquialism for those who curry favor among the moneyed on the island of Palm Beach.
—Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 8 Jan. 2025
It’s been a year of chaos and colloquialisms, as the internet shaped not only our vocabulary but our entire political system.
—Kate Lindsay, Vulture, 2 Jan. 2025
And, like any colloquialism popularized by an internet trend, celebs, brands and even the president himself cashed in on the sensation.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA TODAY, 28 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for colloquialism
Recent Examples of Synonyms for colloquialism
Noun
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Patrick also has his own researcher, so the cast members all had access to this dropbox full of stuff, including incredible academic studies of John Gacy’s speech pattern and word choice and syntax use, and a breakdown of the Chicago dialect and his Polish background.—
Hunter Ingram,
Variety,
18 Oct. 2025
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On Thursday evening, Welsh read from his new book Men in Love, which is written in the Edinburgh dialect.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Last year, Jimmy didn’t even know any defensive terminology.—
Jon Conahan,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Oct. 2025
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The guidelines contain specific terminology and targets for calories and nutrients that guide federal food aid for mothers and infants, free school lunches and what's served at military bases and in federal prisons.—
Will Stone,
NPR,
8 Oct. 2025
Noun
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One of the most basic versions is a progressive relaxation technique, a countdown from 10 to 1 where Perri uses what are known as hypnotic language patterns.—
Rustin Dodd,
New York Times,
23 Oct. 2025
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The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.—
Madison E. Goldberg,
PEOPLE,
23 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Music unites the interconnecting stories in this saga and expands its passions, with a sumptuous score by composer Stephen Flaherty and lyricist Lynn Ahrens that taps into a wide range of American styles, idioms and amalgams, even as the second act turns more dissonant.—
Frank Rizzo,
Variety,
17 Oct. 2025
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The history of labor struggle, infused with religious idioms, is a source of identity and values evident in everything from union meetings in churches to prayers on picket lines.—
The Conversation,
The Conversation,
7 Oct. 2025
Noun
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These acts of radical playfulness—the inflatable dance parties, the music, the absurdity—have become part of the city’s moral vocabulary.—
MSNBC Newsweek,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Oct. 2025
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There's also critical thinking, vocabulary, and knowledge that books offer students.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
9 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Every generation invents its own slang, and language evolves in ways most of us will never consciously perceive, Jones said.—
Scottie Andrew,
CNN Money,
18 Oct. 2025
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What other slang does Gen Alpha use?—
Mariyam Muhammad,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
8 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Colloquialism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/colloquialism. Accessed 24 Oct. 2025.
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