neologism

neologism
noun
ne·;ol·;o·;gism n;-;;-l;-;ji-z;m
Synonyms of neologism
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
n;-;;-l;-;ji-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 n;ologisme, meaning both "the habit of forming new words" and "a newly formed word." The French term, which comes from n;ologie, 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In interviews, Twigs disbursed the meanings behind her neologism, her philosophy.
—Doreen St. F;lix, The New Yorker, 1 Feb. 2025
Perhaps that’s why we’ve been bombarded with so many neologisms to describe mind states, like brain rot, or Eusexua.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 28 Jan. 2025
Pepperberg demonstrated that Alex asked questions, performed simple addition and, in a few instances, coined neologisms.
—Camille Bromley Gabra Zackman Krish Seenivasan David Mason, New York Times, 6 Jan. 2025
As a host, Scherzinger could play the eager theater kid to the likes of the intimidating Simon Cowell, throwing out neologisms like schamazing.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 21 Oct. 2024

Word History
Etymology
borrowed from French n;ologisme "the habit of forming new words, a newly formed word," from n;ologie "coining of new words" (from n;o- neo- + -logie -logy) + -isme -ism

First Known Use
1772, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of neologism was in 1772
See more words from the same year