What does "idiom" mean?
A manner of speaking, a mode of expression peculiar to a language, language family, or group of people.
Idiom
/ˈɪdiəm/ noun
noun ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A manner of speaking, a mode of expression peculiar to a language, language family, or group of people.
- Grammar: idiom is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: phrase, expression, locution, set phrase.
- Useful contrasts: flexible phrase, literal expression, universal phrase.
- Usage evidence: I foolishly interpreted the idiom according to its literal sense.
How to use "idiom"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "idiom" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "idiom" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "idiom" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "idiom" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "idiom" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "phrase" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "idiom", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A manner of speaking, a mode of expression peculiar to a language, language family, or group of people.
"In English, idiom requires the indefinite article in a phrase such as "she's an engineer", whereas in Spanish, idiom forbids it."
- 2 the style of a particular artist or school or movement wordnet
- 3 A manner of speaking, a mode of expression peculiar to a language, language family, or group of people.; A programming construct or phraseology that is characteristic of the language.
"I have to use the same assignment and call to raw_input in two places. How can I avoid that? I can use the while True/break idiom: […]"
- 4 a manner of speaking that is natural to native speakers of a language wordnet
- 5 A language or language variety; specifically, a restricted dialect used in a given historical period, context etc.
"In the idiom of the day, they were sutlers, although today they'd probably be called vendors."
Show 4 more definitions
- 6 an expression whose meanings cannot be inferred from the meanings of the words that make it up wordnet
- 7 An established phrasal expression whose meaning may not be deducible from the literal meanings of its component words.
"She often spoke in idioms, pining for salad days and complaining about pots calling the kettle black."
- 8 the usage or vocabulary that is characteristic of a specific group of people wordnet
- 9 An artistic style (for example, in art, architecture, or music); an instance of such a style.
"the idiom of the expressionists"
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
flexible phraseliteral expressionuniversal phrase
Example
"I foolishly interpreted the idiom according to its literal sense."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "idiom"?
Common synonyms include: phrase, expression, locution, set phrase, acadian, accent.
How do you use "idiom" in a sentence?
I foolishly interpreted the idiom according to its literal sense.
How do you pronounce "idiom"?
Pronounced /ˈɪdiəm/.
Etymology
From Middle French idiome, and its source, Late Latin idioma, from Ancient Greek ἰδίωμα (idíōma, “a peculiarity, property, a peculiar phraseology, idiom”), from ἰδιοῦσθαι (idioûsthai, “to make one's own, appropriate to oneself”), from ἴδιος (ídios, “one's own, pertaining to oneself, private, personal, peculiar, separate”). By surface analysis, idi- + -om.