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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of colloquialism
Kam understood the regional colloquialism assignment!
—
Cindi Andrews and Katie Wissman, The Indianapolis Star, 3 Nov. 2024
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
See All Example Sentences for colloquialism
Cindi Andrews and Katie Wissman, The Indianapolis Star, 3 Nov. 2024
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
See All Example Sentences for colloquialism
Recent Examples of Synonyms for colloquialism
Noun
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What could be more revealing, fragile, and intimate — in any dialect — than the loneliness that pushes someone’s attempt to make a friend?—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
15 Feb. 2025
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Even today, traces of French can be found in the local dialect; the Palermitan aristocracy once spoke fluent French and frequently sent their chefs to Paris to master the art of haute cuisine.—
Tiziana Cardini,
Vogue,
27 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The intricacies of navigating multiple research firms—each with its own methodologies, terminologies and evaluation criteria—can be daunting.—
Reyne Quackenbush,
Forbes,
20 Feb. 2025
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Mexicans, in particular, have many issues with the film, including the violent cartel storyline, lack of Mexican involvement in the film, and the mishmash of accents and terminology.—
Anne Thompson,
IndieWire,
4 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Michigan’s approach through its Global Talent Initiative illustrates how comprehensive language programs can transform careers.—
Alison Griffin,
Forbes,
20 Feb. 2025
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The production contains adult language and addresses sensitive topics, including bipolar disorder, anxiety, grief, a suicide attempt, loss of a child and the use of psychiatric medication, the release said.—
Mike Danahey,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Knowing the correct four-word idioms is a sign of education.—
Rachel Chang,
Travel + Leisure,
4 Feb. 2025
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Glover’s score — for rock band, piano and acoustic strings — evokes pop idioms while politely sidestepping direct quotation.—
Corinna da Fonseca-Wollheim,
New York Times,
20 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The distinct local vocabulary is sprinkled with Guaraní, an Indigenous language widely spoken in neighboring Paraguay.—
Graciela Mochkofsky,
The New Yorker,
11 Feb. 2025
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Pulp Fiction might be the dictionary of his cinematic vocabulary, offering insights into the language of his other works.—
Paul Fitzgerald,
Rolling Stone,
7 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Plus, since most of the app's content is in Mandarin, subtitles are suddenly rampant — as are posts from Americans who want to learn the language, including by exchanging translations of popular slang phrases with Chinese commenters.—
Rachel Treisman,
NPR,
15 Jan. 2025
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Although challenges remain, future systems trained on greater amounts of non-English data could be capable of discerning subtle differences between dialects and understanding the meaning and cultural context of slang or Internet memes.—
Anne Neuberger,
Foreign Affairs,
15 Jan. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Colloquialism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/colloquialism. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
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