Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun Neologism.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun Innovation in language; the introduction of new words or new senses of old words.
  • noun The invention or introduction of new ideas or views.
  • noun Specifically, rationalistic views in theology.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun The introduction of a new word, or of words or significations, into a language.
  • noun (Theol.) A new doctrine

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun The study or art of neologizing (creating new words).
  • noun The act of introducing a new word into a language
  • noun obsolete The holding of novel or rational religious views

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun the act of inventing a word or phrase
  • noun a newly invented word or phrase

Etymologies

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Examples

  • And at least his success was unmistakable as to the precise literary effect he had intended, including a certain tincture of "neology" in expression -- nonnihil interdum elocutione novella parum signatum -- in the language of

    Marius the Epicurean — Volume 1 Walter Pater 1866

  • The aging CBS anchorwoman did a segment on “neology,” which, as she defined it, is the invention of a word, or breathing new life into an old one.

    OBAMA ZOMBIES Jason Mattera 2010

  • The aging CBS anchorwoman did a segment on “neology,” which, as she defined it, is the invention of a word, or breathing new life into an old one.

    OBAMA ZOMBIES Jason Mattera 2010

  • Bainbridge reminds us that Thomas Jefferson wrote: I am a friend to neology.

    Archive 2006-11-01 Ann Althouse 2006

  • News peer reputation survey, generated a spirited critique by David Giacalone on on the f/k/a blog, which is dedicated to "one-breath poetry & breathless punditry with haikuEsq," for engaging in "bad neology":

    Law Porn, Law School Puffspam, Haiku, and Woodpeckers 2005

  • News peer reputation survey, generated a spirited critique by David Giacalone on on the f/k/a blog, which is dedicated to "one-breath poetry & breathless punditry with haikuEsq," for engaging in "bad neology":

    October 2005 2005

  • Interest in coinage, or neology, is closely akin to etymology, the history of coinage and semantic development.

    No Uncertain Terms William Safire 2003

  • Interest in coinage, or neology, is closely akin to etymology, the history of coinage and semantic development.

    No Uncertain Terms William Safire 2003

  • Interest in coinage, or neology, is closely akin to etymology, the history of coinage and semantic development.

    No Uncertain Terms William Safire 2003

  • Interest in coinage, or neology, is closely akin to etymology, the history of coinage and semantic development.

    No Uncertain Terms William Safire 2003

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  • whaaaa? (again)

    March 17, 2008