Neologism
A neologism is a newly coined word or a new meaning for an existing word, whether or not it has yet entered general use.
Every word was new once. "Brunch" appeared in an 1895 magazine essay. "Chortle" came from Lewis Carroll's "Jabberwocky". Each began as someone's coinage.
How coinages arise
- Blending. Two words fused, as in a portmanteau.
- Compounding. Whole words joined, as in "smartphone".
- Shortening. "Fridge" from refrigerator.
- Conversion. A noun turned into a verb: "to google".
- New senses. An old word given a fresh job: "viral", "cloud".
- Pure invention. Made up from nothing, as in Carroll's "frabjous".
Most neologisms fade. A few catch on because they fill a gap, sound right and are easy to say.
Neologisms in fiction
Speculative fiction depends on them. A writer building a world needs names for things the reader has never seen. The best invented words can be guessed at first sight, such as "hoverboard" or "starship". Others, such as "grok" from Heinlein, take on a life of their own. This is part of worldbuilding.
Why it matters to a writer or editor
A coined word is a promise to the reader that it will be worth learning. Use one when nothing else will do, and give enough context for it to be understood. An editor's test is whether the word is clear, whether it is used consistently and whether it clashes with an existing meaning. Keep a list of every invented term in a long work and its spelling, which a style sheet is built for.
Frequently asked questions
How do new words enter a language?
Through blends such as brunch, borrowing from other languages, shortening, turning nouns into verbs, new senses for old words and invention. Most coinages fade, and a few stick.
What are famous neologisms by writers?
Shakespeare is credited with many, among them 'bedazzled' and 'lonely'. Lewis Carroll gave us 'chortle'. Dr Seuss brought in 'nerd'. Some of these claims are disputed, since the first written use is not always the first use.
How do I know if a neologism will work?
A reader should decode it from context on first sight. If you have to explain it, it is either too clever or needs a better setup.