neologism
Definitions
A newly coined word or expression, or a familiar word used in a new sense
新词，新造的词语（或被赋予新义的旧词）
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedneo (neos = new) + log (logos = word) + -ism = literally "new-word-ism": a freshly invented term. Every word was a neologism once — selfie, podcast, doomscrolling all started as new coinages before settling into everyday use.
Root neo still carries 4 more wordsWhy It Means This
The word carries a faint judgment. Calling a term a neologism can be neutral ("a useful new coinage") or mildly dismissive ("a made-up word that hasn't earned its place"). The same coinage can be celebrated by some and rolled-eyed at by others — the label itself stays neutral; the tone comes from the speaker.
Common Collocations
- 1.coin a neologism造一个新词
- 2.modern neologism现代新词
- 3.linguistic neologism语言学新词
- 4.internet neologism网络新词
Example Sentences
- 1.
'Selfie' was once a neologism but is now in every dictionary.
- 2.
The internet generates neologisms faster than dictionaries can track them.
- 3.
Critics dismissed his coinage as an empty neologism that would never catch on.