Colloquialism
noun /kəˈloʊ.kwi.ə.lɪ.z(ə)m/ — An informal expression used in ordinary conversation.
Definition
A word or phrase used in informal speech or writing but not considered appropriate for formal contexts. Colloquialisms are the furniture of everyday speech — familiar, comfortable, and entirely invisible until someone points them out.
Beyond the definition
Colloquialisms are the body language of language — the markers of ease, of belonging, of speaking without performing. When you drop into colloquialism, you're saying: I trust you with my actual way of speaking.
Origin & history
From Latin 'colloquium' (conversation); from 'colloqui' (to speak with someone). Speaking-with — the conversational mode.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
She code-switched effortlessly between academic register and the colloquialisms of her hometown.
'Gonna', 'wanna', 'kinda' — the colloquialisms of American English that no grammar book sanctions but everyone uses.
Every colloquialism was once a neologism: the informal innovation that eventually won.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Colloquialism” when the meaning fits your context: A word or phrase used in informal speech or writing but not considered appropriate for formal contexts. Colloquialisms are the furniture of everyday speech — familiar, comfortable, and entirely invisible until someone points them out.
Synonyms
informal expression, idiom, vernacular term
Antonyms
formal expression, standard language
Related words
Colloquialism vs slang
Colloquialisms are informal expressions used in everyday speech that are widely understood. Slang consists of non-standard, often ephemeral words used by specific subcultures to signal group identity.
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Familiar Local Interaction
Two friends are chatting, gesturing with hands, looking comfortable and genuine at a cafe table.
The relaxed posture and comfortable interaction represent the 'furniture' of everyday speech. Colloquialisms are as natural as the informal setting, entirely integrated into the conversation without being highlighted as distinct from standard language.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Colloquialism" mean?
Colloquialism is noun meaning: An informal expression used in ordinary conversation.. A word or phrase used in informal speech or writing but not considered appropriate for formal contexts. Colloquialisms are the furniture of everyday speech — familiar, comfortable, and entirely invisible until someone points them out.
Where does the word "Colloquialism" come from?
From Latin 'colloquium' (conversation); from 'colloqui' (to speak with someone). Speaking-with — the conversational mode.