Britishism

[ brit-i-shiz-uhm ]

noun

1. Briticism.
2. any custom, manner, characteristic, or quality peculiar to or associated with the British people.
3. the aggregate of such qualities regarded as characteristic of a British person:

   His cool reserve is just part of his Britishism.

Britishism

/ ˈbrɪtɪˌʃɪzəm /

noun

1. a variant of Briticism

Word History and Origins

Origin of Britishism¹

First recorded in 1880–85; British + -ism

Example Sentences

In the time of the Puritans, it could be called white Protestant Britishism: that the people to whom the land rightly belongs are white as opposed to Native American, Protestant as opposed to Catholic or any indigenous religious group, British as opposed to French or certainly the nations of Native Americans.

From Salon

The Times of London gave it two out of five stars, saying that it was “little better than much of the Diana tat,” a Britishism for a cheap souvenir.

From Washington Post

Oh and what was her Britishism for a hot man, “sort”? Her whispering herself lustily that one of her fellow contestants was a “sort” was also a highlight.

From Slate

“Aerated” being a Britishism that means “agitated, angry or overexcited.”

From Washington Post

Both leaders were asked whether the monarchy was “fit for purpose,” a Britishism for something well-suited for its designated role.

From Washington Post