culture shock: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Neutral (used in academic, journalistic, business, and everyday contexts)
Quick answer
What does “culture shock” mean?
The feeling of confusion, anxiety, or disorientation a person experiences when they move to, or are immersed in, a cultural environment that is vastly different from their own.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The feeling of confusion, anxiety, or disorientation a person experiences when they move to, or are immersed in, a cultural environment that is vastly different from their own.
More broadly, the feeling of surprise, confusion, or anxiety one might feel when encountering any unfamiliar system of customs, practices, or social norms, which can occur in new workplaces, social groups, or subcultures, not just different countries.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling follows respective conventions (e.g., 'behaviour'/'behavior' in surrounding text).
Connotations
Identical in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally common in both BrE and AmE.
Grammar
How to Use “culture shock” in a Sentence
experience [culture shock]suffer from [culture shock]be in [culture shock]go through [culture shock]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “culture shock” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Many students culture-shock when they first arrive at a UK university from overseas.
- She was totally culture-shocked by the local customs.
American English
- He culture-shocked pretty hard during his first week in Tokyo.
- New employees often get culture-shocked by the company's intense pace.
adjective
British English
- She had a culture-shock experience on her gap year.
- They offer counselling for culture-shock sufferers.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Discussed in international HR and expatriate training regarding employee relocation and performance.
Academic
A key concept in anthropology, sociology, and intercultural communication studies.
Everyday
Used by travellers, exchange students, and migrants describing their initial experiences abroad.
Technical
In psychology, refers to the four-stage model (honeymoon, negotiation, adjustment, adaptation) of cultural adaptation.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “culture shock”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “culture shock”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “culture shock”
- Using it for minor annoyances (e.g., different food) rather than a profound sense of disorientation.
- Spelling as one word: 'cultureshock' (should be two words or hyphenated: 'culture-shock').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not necessarily. While it is stressful, it is a normal part of cross-cultural adaptation and can lead to significant personal growth and broader perspective.
It varies greatly by individual and situation. The intense initial phase often lasts a few weeks to months, but the full adjustment process can take a year or more.
Yes, though it's less common. One can experience a similar disorientation when moving between very different subcultures, regions, or social environments (e.g., rural to urban, joining a strict organisation).
Homesickness is a longing for the familiar people and places of home. Culture shock is specifically the confusion and anxiety caused by navigating an unfamiliar culture's norms, values, and behaviours. They often occur together.
The feeling of confusion, anxiety, or disorientation a person experiences when they move to, or are immersed in, a cultural environment that is vastly different from their own.
Culture shock is usually neutral (used in academic, journalistic, business, and everyday contexts) in register.
Culture shock: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkʌltʃə ʃɒk/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkʌltʃər ʃɑːk/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “It's a whole new world”
- “Fish out of water (related concept)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'shock' like an electric shock—sudden and startling. 'Culture shock' is the sudden, startling feeling you get when plunged into a very different culture.
Conceptual Metaphor
CULTURE IS A PHYSICAL FORCE (that can 'shock' or 'hit' you). TRANSITION IS A JOURNEY THROUGH DIFFICULT TERRAIN (with 'shock' as an obstacle).
Practice
Quiz
What is 'reverse culture shock'?