neologism

A neologism is a newly coined or newly accepted word or phrase in a language. Etymology: from Greek neo- meaning new and lógos meaning word, via the French néologisme. Neologisms can arise in response to new phenomena, technologies, social groups, or cultural trends, and may be temporary or progressively assimilated into the standard lexicon.

Neologisms form through several mechanisms. Coinage or purposeful invention creates entirely new items, while borrowing introduces terms from other languages or specialized vocabularies. Calques translate elements of phrases from one language into another. Word formation processes such as blending (brunch from breakfast and lunch), clipping (demo from demonstration), affixation (unfriend), and compounding (laptop) also generate neologisms. Acronyms (NASA) and initialisms (FYI) are common sources, as are semantic shifts that extend a word’s meaning to cover new ideas, objects, or practices.

Adoption and status vary. Some neologisms gain traction quickly and enter general use, while others remain slang or professional jargon. Their longevity depends on usefulness, cultural relevance, frequency of use, and acceptance by editors, educators, and media. Dictionaries may formalize entry after sustained usage, contributing to standardization.

Examples illustrate the range of formation: blog (from weblog), selfie (self-portrait photo), to google (as a verb), emoji (Japanese term for pictographs), and brunch (blend of breakfast and lunch). Neologisms reflect linguistic adaptation to evolving societies and technologies, continuing the dynamic process of language change.