neologism

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "neologism" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a newly coined word or expression that may be in the process of entering common use. Example: "The term 'selfie' is a popular neologism that has become widely accepted in modern language."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Malcolm Fraser might have instigated the "Razor Gang" but it was Hawke and Keating who popularised (the now almost forgotten) neologism "economic rationalism".

The Guardian - Opinion

Man bag is a neologism that us style snobs avoid.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Though descriptive, his books are turgidly written in a mixture of neologism, sociologese and Frenchified Latin.

The Economist

That involves removing the nucleus of the fertilised egg (and the DNA it contains) and transplanting it into a second, donor, egg which contains properly-functioning mitochondria.The resulting child would inherit roughly 20,000 genes-worth of nuclear DNA from its mother and father, and exactly 37 mitochondrial genes from the egg donor ("mitomum" seems to be the neologism of choice).

The Economist

This dates from Lula's first presidential term, from 2003 to 2006, when it is alleged that the PT bought the loyalty of its coalition partners in congress with monthly bribes (mensalão is a Portuguese neologism that translates roughly as "big monthly payment").Lula is not himself among the defendants in the mensalão.

The Economist

Openwave is the company created by the merger earlier this year of those two firms, and on November 20th it announced that it was dropping the common nouns in favour of the meaningless neologism.

The Economist

It was Sarah Posner who coined the term "Teavangelicals," a little neologism for a simple idea.

The Economist

The idea of the main European political groups picking "Spitzenkandidaten" to become the president of the European Commission is a novelty (and has created Brussels's first German neologism in years).

The Economist

It was voted by a language jury the ugliest German neologism of 2010, and has sparked sarcastic resistance on the political fringes.

The Economist

They even use the word "concertacesión", a neologism coined in the Salinas era to describe his alleged ability to concede some power to the opposition while keeping everyone else mostly happy.

The Economist

There is now a popular Portuguese neologism, entroikado, roughly meaning "economically screwed".As guardian of the creditors, the troika was never going to be loved.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When introducing a "neologism" in your writing, provide a clear definition and context to ensure your audience understands its meaning and intended use.

Common error

Avoid assuming your audience is familiar with a "neologism". Always provide context or a brief explanation, even if you believe the term is becoming more widely known.

Linguistic Context

The word "neologism" functions as a noun, referring to a newly coined word or phrase. Ludwig AI shows that it is used to describe the introduction and use of new terms in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

46%

Encyclopedias

12%

Science

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "neologism" is a noun that describes a newly coined word or phrase. Ludwig AI indicates that it's grammatically correct and frequently used in various writing contexts, particularly in News & Media, Encyclopedias, and Science. When using a "neologism", it's best practice to provide a clear definition to ensure your audience understands its meaning. Avoid assuming familiarity with new terms and always provide context. Alternatives include "newly coined word" or "newly invented term". The term is valuable for discussing language evolution and the introduction of new concepts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

newly coined word

Emphasizes the recent creation of the word.

newly invented term

Highlights the invention aspect of a new term.

coined expression

Focuses on the act of creating a new expression.

new phrase

A general term for a recently introduced phrase.

recent coinage

Highlights the recent creation of a word or phrase.

innovative term

Focuses on the innovative aspect of the new term.

newly introduced word

Highlights the introduction of a new word into usage.

new lexical item

A more formal term for a new word or phrase.

invented expression

Stresses the act of inventing a new way to express something.

emerging term

Highlights the ongoing process of a term becoming established.

FAQs

How is a "neologism" different from an existing word?

A "neologism" is a newly coined word or phrase that is not yet fully established in common usage, whereas an existing word has already been accepted and integrated into the language.

When is it appropriate to use a "neologism" in writing?

It's appropriate to use a "neologism" when you need a specific term for a new concept or phenomenon, but be sure to define it clearly for your audience. Overuse can make your writing seem forced or pretentious.

What are some examples of words that started as "neologisms"?

Words like "blog", "internet", and "selfie" were once "neologisms" but have since become widely accepted and integrated into the English language.

How can I identify a "neologism"?

A "neologism" is often a word or phrase that is not found in standard dictionaries or has only recently been added. It may also sound unfamiliar or be used in specialized contexts.