noun
- a word or phrase used in ordinary or familiar conversation rather than in formal speech or writing
Examples
- The phrase ‘gonna’ is a colloquialism for ‘going to.’
- Her essay was too informal because it contained many colloquialisms.
- Regional colloquialisms can be confusing to people from other areas.
- The teacher asked students to avoid colloquialisms in their research papers.
- Y’all is a Southern colloquialism meaning ‘you all.’
- Business writing should be free of colloquialisms and slang.
- The dictionary includes common colloquialisms alongside formal definitions.