noun
- the quality or state of being idiomatic; the degree to which an expression follows the patterns and conventions of a particular language rather than being literally translatable.
Usage: linguistics; formal
Examples
- The idiomaticity of the phrase 'raining cats and dogs' makes it difficult for non-native speakers to understand.
- Linguists study idiomaticity to understand how native speakers naturally combine words.
- The high idiomaticity of colloquial expressions often surprises language learners.
- Translators must account for idiomaticity when converting text from one language to another.
- The idiomaticity of English phrasal verbs is one of the most challenging aspects for ESL students.