What does idiom mean?
An idiom is a conventional expression whose meaning is not fully predictable from the individual words that make it up. For example, “break the ice” means to ease initial tension, not to physically split frozen water. Idioms are common in everyday conversation, literature, and informal writing, and they often reflect a culture’s history, values, or way of thinking. The term can also refer more broadly to a group’s characteristic way of using language, such as a regional dialect, professional register, or period style. Mastering idioms improves fluency because it allows a speaker to convey familiar ideas naturally and efficiently. However, idioms may be informal, culturally specific, or easily misunderstood by learners, so their meanings are best learned from established usage rather than guessed from context.
nounA group of words whose meaning differs from the literal meanings of the individual words, especially when used as a fixed expression. It can also mean a particular form of language characteristic of a group, region, or context.
- An expression composed of words used in a particular way that has a meaning different from, or more specific than, the literal meaning of the individual words.
- A form of language peculiar to a group of people, place, profession, or social context.
- A characteristic style or manner of expression.
"The phrase “let the cat out of the bag” is an idiom that means to reveal a secret."
"The novel is full of local idioms that make the dialogue feel authentic."
"The phrase “under the weather” is a familiar idiom meaning that someone is unwell."
The plural is used for individual expressions and, in broader senses, for a group of characteristic expressions.
"The guide includes several idioms that are useful in formal conversation."
An idiom can turn five ordinary words into a miniature piece of cultural shorthand: “bite the bullet” means to face something unpleasant with determination.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does idiom come from?
Idiom comes from Latin idioma, a loanword from Greek ἰδιωμα, meaning a peculiar or individual characteristic. The Greek term was associated with a person’s own language or distinctive mode of expression. English later developed the word in both its modern narrow sense, referring to a fixed expression, and broader senses concerning a language or style characteristic of a group.
Related word forms
How idiom is actually used
In its most common sense, idiom refers to a conventional expression whose meaning cannot be reliably inferred from its parts. In literary and cultural analysis, it may more broadly denote the language of a particular community or period.
Easily confused with idiom
An idiom is a fixed expression whose overall meaning may not be predictable from its words, whereas a proverb is a concise saying that generally expresses a general truth or practical advice.
A phrase is any group of words, while an idiom has a conventional meaning that is not simply the sum of the individual words’ meanings.