solecism

[ sol-uh-siz-uhm, soh-luh- ]

noun

1. a nonstandard or ungrammatical usage, as unflammable and they was.
2. a breach of good manners or etiquette.
3. any error, impropriety, or inconsistency.

solecism

/ ˈsɒlɪˌsɪzəm /

noun

1. 1. the nonstandard use of a grammatical construction
   2. any mistake, incongruity, or absurdity
2. a violation of good manners

Derived Forms

• ˌsoleˈcistically, adverb
• ˌsoleˈcistic, adjective
• ˈsolecist, noun

Other Words From

• sole·cist noun
• sole·cistic sole·cisti·cal adjective
• sole·cisti·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of solecism¹

First recorded in 1570–80; from Latin soloecismus “grammatical mistake,” from Greek soloikismós “incorrect use of language” (whether of individual words or in syntax), equivalent to sóloik(os), adjective formed from Sólo(i) (a city in Cilicia founded by Doric-speaking Greeks from Rhodes, whose local dialect Athenians considered corrupt) + -ik(os) + -ismos; -ic, -ism

Word History and Origins

Origin of solecism¹

C16: from Latin soloecismus, from Greek soloikismos, from soloikos speaking incorrectly, from Soloi an Athenian colony of Cilicia where the inhabitants spoke a corrupt form of Greek

Example Sentences

There isn’t space here or time for me to list every solecism in the piece, so I will focus on some of the most egregious errors.

From Los Angeles Times

Search online and you will not find an image of Prince Philip committing a style solecism.

From New York Times

If someone tells a friend, “I just got a great new tablet with mobile broadband,” it would hardly be a solecism for the friend to reply, “Great— does your service let me reach you from my landline?”

From The Verge

Modesty, respectability, self-restraint, and blushes may be left at home, for they are useless and somewhat of a hindrance to the matter in hand … If you commit a solecism or a barbarism, let shamelessness be your only remedy.”

From The Guardian

An egregious linguistic solecism vitiated the otherwise well-written and informative March 5 news article “Ben Carson to leave HUD at end of Trump’s term.”

From Washington Post