colloquialism
noun
col·lo·qui·al·ism
kə-ˈlō-kwē-ə-ˌli-zəm 
1
a
: a colloquial expression
"Chicken out" is a colloquialism for "to lose one's nerve."
b
: a local or regional dialect expression
"Bodacious" originated as a Southern colloquialism.
2
: colloquial style
the appeal of the author's colloquialism
Examples of colloquialism in a Sentence
His English is very good, but he has trouble understanding certain colloquialisms.
Recent Examples on the Web
Kam understood the regional colloquialism assignment!
—
Cindi Andrews and Katie Wissman, The Indianapolis Star, 3 Nov. 2024
The fine line between being relatable to your audience and appearing unprofessional by going against consumer preferences to formality by using slang, colloquialisms, or informalities can potentially damage brand growth with both new and existing consumers.
—Gary Drenik, Forbes, 3 Sep. 2024
The colloquialism refers to the rare nature of the actual blue moon.
—Olivia Munson, USA TODAY, 16 Aug. 2024
Early entrance exams were heavily biased toward American customs and colloquialisms, putting first-generation immigrants at a disadvantage.
—Sarah Stoller / Made By History, TIME, 11 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for colloquialism 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Cindi Andrews and Katie Wissman, The Indianapolis Star, 3 Nov. 2024
The fine line between being relatable to your audience and appearing unprofessional by going against consumer preferences to formality by using slang, colloquialisms, or informalities can potentially damage brand growth with both new and existing consumers.
—Gary Drenik, Forbes, 3 Sep. 2024
The colloquialism refers to the rare nature of the actual blue moon.
—Olivia Munson, USA TODAY, 16 Aug. 2024
Early entrance exams were heavily biased toward American customs and colloquialisms, putting first-generation immigrants at a disadvantage.
—Sarah Stoller / Made By History, TIME, 11 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for colloquialism
Dictionary Entries Near colloquialism
Cite this Entry
“Colloquialism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/colloquialism. Accessed 25 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
colloquialism
noun
col·lo·qui·al·ism
kə-ˈlō-kwē-ə-ˌliz-əm
1
: a colloquial expression
2
: colloquial style
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share