colloquialism
colloquialism Lexical Profile
colloquialism Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A word, phrase, or expression characteristic of ordinary, familiar conversation rather than formal speech or writing.
"The novelist used regional colloquialisms in the dialogue to make the characters sound authentic."
An informal or conversational style of speaking or writing.
"The professor's lectures were known for their relaxed colloquialism and approachable tone."
Word Nuance & Usage
A colloquialism is often confused with slang; however, colloquialisms are everyday informal expressions understood by the general population (such as "gonna" or "y'all"), whereas slang is typically restricted to specific subcultures or age groups.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Formed in the early 19th century from "colloquial" plus the suffix "-ism", ultimately deriving from the Latin "colloquium" (conversation), from "com-" (together) and "loqui" (to speak).