Added 9 October 2026
idiom
/ˈɪdiəm/ noun
Latin root: idioma Wiktionary
noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about idiom at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
-
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.
- A programming construct or phraseology that is characteristic of the language.
-
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.
Origin
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.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)