neologism
UK[niˈɒlədʒɪzəm]US[niˈɑːlədʒɪzəm]
n
a new word or expression, or a new meaning for an existing word
n
the practice of coining or using new words or expressions
Morpheme Breakdown
neo
log
ism
neo
new
log
word, speech
ism
doctrine, practice
Etymology
The word 'neologism' is a modern formation, coined in the late 18th century from Greek elements to precisely describe a linguistic phenomenon. It directly combines neo- (new) with -log- (from logos, meaning word or speech) and the noun-forming suffix -ism. The construction follows a transparent Greek-derived pattern common in scholarly English, where -log- appears in terms like 'philology' (love of words) and 'etymology' (study of true words). Thus, a neologism is literally "the practice or doctrine of a new word," a term created to formally categorize the constant process of lexical innovation within a language.
Analysis
Structure: neo (new) + log (word, speech) + ism (doctrine, practice)
- neo: From Greek neos, meaning "new". A combining form indicating newness or recent origin.
- log: From Greek logos, meaning "word, speech, reason". A combining form related to words or discourse.
- ism: From Greek -ismos, a suffix forming nouns of action, practice, or doctrine.
Examples
The word "blog" is a neologism that quickly became standard.
Science fiction authors are often credited with popularizing neologisms like "robot".
His writing was criticized for its reliance on confusing neologisms.