colloquialism: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, academic, linguistic
Quick answer
What does “colloquialism” mean?
A word, phrase, or expression that is used in ordinary, informal conversation rather than in formal speech or writing.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A word, phrase, or expression that is used in ordinary, informal conversation rather than in formal speech or writing.
A linguistic feature characteristic of casual, familiar speech, often specific to a particular region or social group, and sometimes considered non-standard in formal contexts.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The concept and term are identical in both varieties.
Connotations
Neutral descriptive term in linguistics; slightly academic in everyday use.
Frequency
Equally common in academic and linguistic contexts in both regions. Rare in casual conversation.
Grammar
How to Use “colloquialism” in a Sentence
[subject] uses/employs a colloquialism[subject] is a colloquialism for [object]The colloquialism [verb]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “colloquialism” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The author deliberately colloquialises his dialogue.
- They tend to colloquialise technical terms.
American English
- The writer colloquialized the narrative to sound more authentic.
- The manual was colloquialized for a general audience.
adverb
British English
- He spoke quite colloquially for a professor.
- The instructions were written colloquially.
American English
- She expressed herself very colloquially.
- The article was colloquially phrased.
adjective
British English
- The guide highlighted colloquial phrases.
- His speech was full of colloquial expressions.
American English
- She noted the colloquial term in her research.
- The dialogue had a very colloquial feel.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might be used in marketing or communications discussing brand voice.
Academic
Common in linguistics, sociolinguistics, and language teaching literature.
Everyday
Uncommon. Used by people interested in language or when explaining informal speech.
Technical
Core term in descriptive linguistics and lexicography.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “colloquialism”
Strong
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “colloquialism”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “colloquialism”
- Using 'colloquialism' to mean 'colloquial language' in general (use 'colloquial speech').
- Confusing it with 'slang' (all slang is colloquial, but not all colloquialisms are slang).
- Misspelling as 'coloquialism' (double 'l').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Slang is a type of colloquialism, often used by specific social groups and tending to be short-lived. Colloquialism is a broader category covering all informal, conversational language.
Yes, over time. Many words now considered standard (e.g., 'mob', 'bus') began as colloquialisms. The process is called 'legitimisation' or 'standardisation'.
Use with caution. In the speaking test, appropriate colloquialisms can sound natural. In the writing test, especially for academic tasks, they are usually inappropriate and can lower your score.
An idiom is a phrase whose meaning cannot be deduced from its individual words (e.g., 'kick the bucket'). A colloquialism is any informal word or phrase. Many idioms are also colloquialisms, but not all colloquialisms are idioms.
A word, phrase, or expression that is used in ordinary, informal conversation rather than in formal speech or writing.
Colloquialism is usually formal, academic, linguistic in register.
Colloquialism: in British English it is pronounced /kəˈləʊ.kwi.ə.lɪ.zəm/, and in American English it is pronounced /kəˈloʊ.kwi.ə.lɪ.zəm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “It's just a colloquialism.”
- “That's more of a colloquialism than proper English.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'COLLOQUialism' as coming from 'COLLOQUy' (a conversation) + '-ism' (a thing). It's a 'conversation-thing'.
Conceptual Metaphor
LANGUAGE IS CLOTHING (formal wear vs. casual wear). A colloquialism is the casual clothing of language.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the best definition of a colloquialism?