Formal contexts:
* Science and technology: New discoveries and inventions often require new terminology to describe them. For example, "biotechnology" and "nanotechnology" were neologisms when they first emerged.
* Academia: Researchers may coin new terms to express specific concepts or theories.
* Law: Legal jargon frequently includes neologisms to define new laws or legal concepts.
* Politics: Politicians may use neologisms to express their ideas or to shape public discourse.
Informal contexts:
* Slang: This is a primary source of neologisms, as groups use new words and phrases to express their identity and experiences. For example, "Netflix and chill" and "bae" were slang terms that have become more widely used.
* Marketing: Companies use neologisms to create memorable brand names and product names, often to convey a sense of innovation or uniqueness.
* The arts: Authors, poets, and songwriters often create neologisms for stylistic effect or to express specific ideas.
* Social media: The rapid evolution of internet culture has led to the creation of numerous neologisms, such as "hashtag" and "meme."
Examples of neologisms:
* Tech: "clickbait," "deepfake," "cloud computing"
* Slang: "lit," "salty," "bae"
* Marketing: "Uber," "Airbnb," "Google"
* Arts: "Beatlemania," "jive," "the zeitgeist"
It's important to note that not all new words become successful neologisms. Some may fade into obscurity, while others may eventually become accepted into the mainstream lexicon. The longevity and widespread use of a neologism often depend on its usefulness, memorability, and cultural relevance.