A neologism is a newly coined word, phrase, or expression. It can be:
* A completely new word: "Blog" is a neologism that emerged in the late 1990s.
* A new meaning for an existing word: The word "sick" has taken on a new meaning in recent slang to describe something cool or impressive.
* A new combination of existing words: "Brexit" is a neologism combining "Britain" and "exit."
Neologisms can be created for various reasons, including:
* To describe new concepts or technologies: "Internet", "smartphone", "biotechnology"
* To express specific ideas or emotions: "Mansplaining", "gaslighting"
* To create a more concise or expressive way of saying something: "Binge-watching", "hangry"
Neologisms are often debated and may not become permanently accepted in the language. Some neologisms become widespread and enter dictionaries, while others remain as slang or regional expressions.