idiomatic

adjective

id·​i·​o·​mat·​ic ˌi-dē-ə-ˈma-tik 

1

: of, relating to, or conforming to idiom

2

: peculiar to a particular group, individual, or style

idiomatically

ˌi-dē-ə-ˈma-ti-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

idiomaticness

ˌi-dē-ə-ˈma-tik-nəs 

noun

Did you know?

The speech and writing of a native-born English-speaker may seem crude, uneducated, and illiterate, but will almost always be idiomatic—that is, a native speaker always sounds like a native speaker. For a language learner, speaking and writing idiomatically in another language is the greatest challenge. Even highly educated foreign learners—professors, scientists, doctors, etc.—rarely succeed in mastering the kind of idiomatic English spoken by an American 7th-grader.

Synonyms

• individual
• individualized
• particular
• patented
• peculiar
• personal
• personalized
• private
• privy
• separate
• singular
• subjective
• unique

Examples of idiomatic in a Sentence

the new teacher's idiomatic approach to dealing with special-needs students is already showing signs of success

Recent Examples on the Web

Yet even shows produced in English in other countries, like the UK and Australia, can become a little thick for an American ear trying to sort out the idiomatic quirks and other differences. —Brian Lowry, CNN, 10 June 2024

To be sure, the pause in the action highlighted the brilliant work of the Royal Opera orchestra, under the fluid, idiomatic baton of Antonio Pappano. —Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 25 Sep. 2023

Crafting great light verse and song lyrics is the white-water rafting of our language: small, regular eruptions of self-conscious wit oar against a steady stream of idiomatic speech. —Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 23 May 2022

Young Norwegians tend to speak idiomatic American English. —Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 23 June 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1712, in the meaning defined at sense 1