culture shock

noun

1. a state of bewilderment and distress experienced by an individual who is suddenly exposed to a new, strange, or foreign social and cultural environment.

culture shock

noun

1. sociol the feelings of isolation, rejection, etc, experienced when one culture is brought into sudden contact with another, as when a primitive tribe is confronted by modern civilization

Other Words From

• culture-shocked adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of culture shock¹

First recorded in 1955–60

Idioms and Phrases

A state of confusion and anxiety experienced by someone upon encountering an alien environment. For example, It's not just jet lag—it's the culture shock of being in a new country . This term was first used by social scientists to describe, for example, the experience of a person moving from the country to a big city. It is now used more loosely, as in the example. [Late 1930s]

Example Sentences

It was almost a culture shock seeing what the Americans are up against.

From Los Angeles Times

For the first time, the Southern Section will use a computer algorithm to place teams in playoff divisions, which will be culture shock to some.

From Los Angeles Times

When I left my home for college – from the Bay Area to the Midwest, I had a bit of a culture shock.

From Salon

Still, the arrival of Menon and his philosophy was a culture shock for a squad who had finished as either Premier League champions or runners-up in the previous five seasons.

From BBC

The transition was tough, he had no friends or family nearby and was hit by a huge culture shock.

From BBC