as in dialect
a word or phrase that is used mostly in informal speech; a colloquial expression
His English is very good, but he has trouble understanding certain colloquialisms.
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Recent Examples of colloquialism
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 
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for colloquialism
Noun
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The body of water first showed up on European maps in the 1500s and has had at least 32 names in different languages and dialects throughout the years.—
Kevin Lynn,
Newsweek,
7 Jan. 2025
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Much of the driving dialogue is in Irish, and most importantly, in the Ulster dialect.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
29 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Hardee’s has not provided public updates on its 2025 cage-free egg commitment, though sister brand Carl’s Jr. has already reached this goal in the U.S. Transparency extends from annual reports to labels on store shelves, where the proliferation of options and terminology can be daunting.—
Christine Ro,
Forbes,
15 Jan. 2025
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Although the fires have brought devastation, Kimmel said, the last week has also been full of various lessons — including those on firefighting terminology and emergency responses.—
Alexandra Del Rosario,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Divergent aspects of Cage’s language—hypnotically simple harmony in the first, percussive murmuring in the other—complemented the film’s rapt aura.—
Alex Ross,
The New Yorker,
27 Jan. 2025
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The post also used language resembling false claims that circulated about Musk in September 2024 and early January.—
Katie Smith,
USA TODAY,
27 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The Maze Runner actor sloughs off Roman’s moody persona, replacing that twin’s abrasive bluntness and struggle with idioms with the other’s quick wit and seductive charm.—
Lovia Gyarkye,
The Hollywood Reporter,
24 Jan. 2025
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For instance, the grammar and translation method has been modernized to help students grasp complex concepts like abstract words, idioms and metaphors.—
Geoffrey Alphonso,
Forbes,
3 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Their project for this week was to make Zoom presentations on music vocabulary.—
Daniel Miller,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Jan. 2025
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As sidekicks, Dreux and Alyssa share a value system, vocabulary and hearty appreciation for fun.—
Natalia Winkelman,
New York Times,
16 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Ghosting, a slang term typically used in dating, is when someone abruptly ends all communication without informing the other person as to why.—
Annabelle Canela,
Parents,
24 Jan. 2025
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Robinson called it the All Net Resort and Arena, using basketball slang for a shot so perfect the ball passes through the net without touching the rim.—
Nathan Fenno,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near colloquialism
Cite this Entry
“Colloquialism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/colloquialism. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.
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