1. the imitation or repetition of sounds, words, or ideas; the practice of echoing.
Usage: formal; linguistics and psychology contexts
2. in linguistics, the theory that language originated from imitation of natural sounds.
Usage: historical; linguistics

Examples

• The child's echoism of her parents' speech patterns was a normal part of language development.
• Some linguists have rejected the echoism theory as an incomplete explanation for language origins.
• His tendency toward echoism made it difficult for him to express original thoughts.
• The parrot's echoism of human words amazed the visitors at the zoo.
• Echoism in conversation can indicate active listening or, sometimes, a lack of independent thinking.