Definition of COLLOQUIALISMS (original) (raw)

: a colloquial expression

"Chicken out" is a colloquialism for "to lose one's nerve."

: a local or regional dialect expression

"Bodacious" originated as a Southern colloquialism.

: 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

These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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 My Spanish included Puerto Rican colloquialisms, Salvadoran sentence structure, and university-level Castilian vernacular. —Katty Huertas, Washington Post, 29 Oct. 2023 See all Example Sentences for colloquialism