What is a neologism?

What is a neologism?

The term “neologism” stems from Greek roots, where “neo” means new and “logos” refers to words or speech. Therefore, “neologism’ means “new words.”

In simple terms, a neologism refers to a newly coined word or phrase that gains popularity and acceptance in a language. These terms might be created to fill gaps in communication, reflect cultural shifts, or describe novel concepts and ideas.

Examples of neologisms

Neologisms come into existence to express new ideas that can keep up with the pace of our tech-driven life. Neologisms illustrate the adaptability and dynamism of language, capturing the essence of these contemporary trends and societal changes. These terms often gain widespread usage due to their relevance in expressing new concepts.

A neologism will take shape through one of these common forms:

• A completely new word made up from existing words, such as “webinar” for “web” and “seminar”
• A new meaning for an existing word, such as “sick” to mean “cool” instead of having an illness
• An abbreviation or acronym that represents shorthand for a modern phenomenon, such as “FOMO” for “Fear of Missing Out”

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Twenty or thirty years ago, some of the most common neologisms didn’t exist. Some of the most common neologisms that we accept as part of our everyday vocabulary now include:

• Selfie: coined to describe a self-portrait photograph taken with a smartphone.
• Blog: originating from “web log,” it refers to a regularly updated online platform used and presented as a journal, showcasing personal or professional content.
• Frenemy: combining the words “friend” and “enemy,” this portrays someone in your life with whom you have an unusual relationship with mixed feelings, combining elements of both friendship and rivalry.
• Meme: originally coined in the 1970s from Greek roots referring to both imitation and “gene,” or an idea that—similar to the latter—is easily spread and passed around. While originally referring to grand, widespread cultural ideas that catch on, it has familiarly evolved to funny and relatable images easily created and shared online.

How to embrace neologisms in language

With rapid advancements, tech-related neologisms have evolved within the past few years: whereas we once referred to “software” to run on our computers, we also called them “programs” and then “applications,” further shortening it to “apps.” These words have become integral to everyday conversations.

Neologisms can also take on different meanings as well: if you’re dining out with friends, the word “app” also can be considered shorthand for “appetizer,” and we’ve seen this meaning take on common acceptance in both advertising and conversations in the culinary world.

While some neologisms face initial skepticism, many eventually become widely accepted and integrated—even making their way into new dictionary entries. Neologisms like “binge-watch” or “staycation” reflect societal changes in entertainment consumption, digital culture, and trends relating to self-care. (In recent years, staying home and exploring your own home or city can be reframed as a vacation in itself!)

Their acceptance often depends on sustained usage and relevance in everyday communication. And as global cultures continue to merge, neologisms from various languages get adopted, enriching English vocabulary.

To keep up with the ever-changing nature of language, look toward the world of slang to find and use neologisms correctly. While generational differences may be too fast to keep up, neologisms reflect contemporary culture by their very nature: just as archaisms like “methinks,” ”yonder,” or “daddy-o” can portray the language of yesteryear.

However, neologisms might alienate or baffle some of your readers. With how quickly contemporary culture evolves, you might find that the terms you’re using can also quickly fall out of fashion. Even technically related neologisms such as “plug and play” or “vaporware” can feel wildly out of date.

Fortunately, many common neologisms comprise a wide variety of time, range, and uses. Discover the ins and outs of writing tips that can spruce up your work, such as intensive pronouns, noun clauses, and how to use rhyming effectively if you’re writing poetry.