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 show chugged along nonetheless, gradually attracting fans who adored its stark cinematography and weirdo colloquialisms.
—
Claire McNear,
Rolling Stone,
8 Nov. 2025
Gestures, colloquialisms, facial expressions, local cuisine, and the like are not incidental to a tongue but constitute it; sometimes, to capture a word or phrase, in writing or in an algorithm, is to stamp out its meaning.
—
Matteo Wong,
The Atlantic,
16 Oct. 2025
This could involve helping systems learn colloquialisms and proper usages of terms.
—
Kathy Kristof,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 Mar. 2025
You would be forgiven for assuming this a playful colloquialism, perhaps revealing a tenderness to the hunt.
—
Cecilia Rodriguez,
Forbes,
6 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for colloquialism
Claire McNear,
Rolling Stone,
8 Nov. 2025
Gestures, colloquialisms, facial expressions, local cuisine, and the like are not incidental to a tongue but constitute it; sometimes, to capture a word or phrase, in writing or in an algorithm, is to stamp out its meaning.
—
Matteo Wong,
The Atlantic,
16 Oct. 2025
This could involve helping systems learn colloquialisms and proper usages of terms.
—
Kathy Kristof,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 Mar. 2025
You would be forgiven for assuming this a playful colloquialism, perhaps revealing a tenderness to the hunt.
—
Cecilia Rodriguez,
Forbes,
6 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for colloquialism
Recent Examples of Synonyms for colloquialism
Noun
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Unlike the brighter, more melodic style often associated with Austria and the Tyrol region, Swiss yodeling is slower and more melancholic — an emotionally nuanced tradition rooted in distinct regional dialects.
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Unlike the brighter, more melodic style often associated with Austria and the Tyrol region, Swiss yodeling is slower and more melancholic — an emotionally nuanced tradition rooted in distinct regional dialects.
Noun
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The goal is to develop proficiency in cybersecurity terminology and the technical skills essential for identifying common cyberattack methods.
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Using basic academic terminology would place grants at risk of rejection or termination on political grounds.
Noun
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Eight groups challenged the department’s definition in court, representing nurse practitioners, therapists, speech language pathologists and more.
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Keep language simple, confirm times, and leave extra room between commitments.
Noun
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On the one hand, the translation serves as a source for the idioms of nineteenth-century English; on the other, as evidence of the ideas that the translator held about a Colombian woman writer.
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Out of love for different sound systems, different writing systems, different grammars, different sets of concepts, different idioms, different ways of seeing the world.
Noun
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Understanding The Exposure Gap Many young marketers arrive with ambition, vocabulary and a solid grasp of brand theory.
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Meanwhile, the very vocabulary of humanitarianism and antiracism has become so selectively applied or debased as to be meaningless.
Noun
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Their influence stretched beyond music into fashion, dance trends and slang, and as member Pimpin' noted, fans are still doing the group's signature dance more than two decades later, something a SeaWorld whale recently proved.
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Benoit delights in language as much as her heroine, weaving Regency-era slang throughout and appending a chapter-by-chapter glossary of vulgarities.
Cite this Entry
“Colloquialism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/colloquialism. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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