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What is a neologism?

A neologism is a newly coined word, expression, or usage. It can be a completely new word, or an existing word given a new meaning.

Here are some key things to remember about neologisms:

* They can be intentional or unintentional: Some neologisms are created deliberately, often to describe a new concept or technology, while others emerge organically in everyday language.

* They can be accepted or rejected: Some neologisms become widely adopted and enter the mainstream lexicon, while others remain niche or fade away.

* They can be creative or simply convenient: Some neologisms are clever and evocative, while others are simply convenient shortcuts.

Examples of neologisms:

* "Selfie": A photograph that one has taken of oneself, typically with a smartphone or webcam and shared via social media.

* "Clickbait": Online content designed to attract attention and encourage clicks, often at the expense of accuracy or substance.

* "Woke": Aware of and actively attentive to important social and political issues, especially issues of racial and social justice.

Reasons for creating neologisms:

* To fill a linguistic gap: There may be no existing word for a new concept or object.

* To express a specific nuance: A neologism can capture a particular meaning or feeling that existing words don't.

* To be creative or humorous: Some neologisms are simply fun to invent and use.

Neologisms are constantly being created and evolving as our language adapts to new ideas and experiences.

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