- ne|ol|o|gism
- ne|ol|o|gism «nee OL uh jihz uhm», noun.1. the use of new words or old words with new meanings: »
His particular grievance was neologisms…even the newspaper, he complained, had got into the habit of using the adjective “off-colored”—properly applied only to certain diamonds—to describe the pigmentation of half-caste people (New Yorker).
2. a new word or expression or a new meaning for an old word: »Such neologisms are clipped words like lube for lubricating oil and co-ed for co-educational; back-formations like to televise (1931) from television…; blends like cablegram from cable and telegram…; artificial or made-up formations like carborundum, cellophane, and pianola (Simeon Potter).
3. the introduction of new views or doctrines, especially on religious subjects.╂[< French néologisme < Greek néos new + lógos word < légein speak]
Useful english dictionary. 2012.
