Americanismn.
/əˈmɛrᵻkənɪz(ə)m/, /əˈmɛrᵻkn̩ɪz(ə)m/, U.S. /əˈmɛrəkəˌnɪz(ə)m/ 1.
a. A word, phrase, or other use of language characteristic of, peculiar to, or originating from the United States.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > languages of the world > Indo-Hittite > [noun] > Indo-European > Germanic > English > American English > idiom of
Americanism1781
Yankeeism1820
New Englandism1831
Westernism1836
Canadianism1838
Hoosierism1843
southernism1855
transatlanticism1858
frontierism1890
New Yorkerism1951
1781 J. Witherspoon in Pennsylvania Jrnl. 9 May 1/2 The first class I call Americanisms, by which I understand an use of phrases or terms, or a construction of sentences, even among persons of rank and education, different from the use of the same terms or phrases, or the construction of similar sentences, in Great Britain. The word Americanism, which I have coined for the purpose, is exactly similar in its formation and signification to the word Scotticism.
1795 in D. Ramsay Hist. Amer. Revol. (new ed.) I. Advt. from Friend p. v There are few natives of the United States, who are altogether free from what may be called Americanisms, both in their speech and their writing.
1810 in Mem. J. H. Payne (1815) 64 Several persons on the stage give offence in the pronunciation of the pronoun possessive my—speaking it in all cases with the full open y... This is a pure Americanism, not practised in any other place where the English language is spoken.
1832 M. R. Mitford Our Village V. 76 Society has been progressing (if I may borrow that expressive Americanism) at a very rapid rate.
1882 Sydney Slang Dict. 7/1 Platform, a standpoint, as ‘Home rule's my platform’. Originally an Americanism.
1936 H. L. Mencken Amer. Lang. (ed. 4) i. i. 12 The period from the gathering of the Revolution to the turn of the century was one of immense activity in the concoction and launching of new Americanisms.
1955 Times 6 June 7/4 I suspect that ‘Mr. Mayor’ is an Americanism and as applied to females it is obviously incorrect.
2003 Chicago Tribune (Midwest ed.) 9 Feb. viii. 1/2 But this particular Americanism didn't translate well and thus was lost on my Egyptian guide.
b. gen. A quality, custom, or trait peculiar to or characteristic of the United States; typically American character or behaviour.
ΘΚΠ
the world > people > nations > native or inhabitant of America > native or inhabitant of North America > native or inhabitant of U.S.A. > [noun] > character or quality
Yankeeism1820
Americanism1833
Yankeedoodleism1836
Americanness1862
Yankeeness1909
1833 Edinb. Rev. 57 451 The existence of some peculiar Americanism of character, and even language.
1870 R. W. Emerson Society & Solitude 259 I hate this shallow Americanism which hopes to get rich by credit.
1926 D. H. Lawrence Plumed Serpent ii. 46 Americanism is the worst of the two, because Bolshevism only smashes your house or your business or your skull, but Americanism smashes your soul.
1966 Listener 3 Nov. 644/2 There is already a generation of Englishmen who think of tinned beer as a normal part of life, and not any longer as a hideous Americanism.
2002 Sydney Morning Herald 5 Apr. 7/3 Starbucks, rap music and words with the letter ‘zee’ have been joined by another imported Americanism—driving the kids to school.
2. Attachment or allegiance to, or political sympathy with, the traditions, institutions, and national ideals of the United States.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > social attitudes > patriotism > liking for or sympathy with other nations > [noun] > America
Americanism1797
1797 T. Jefferson Let. 24 June in Writings (1903) IX. 409 The dictates of reason and pure Americanism.
1808 T. Jefferson Writings (1830) IV. 114 I knew your Americanism too well.
1853 M. Howitt tr. F. Bremer Homes of New World I. 160 What constitutes noble republicanism and Americanism.
1862 H. Kingsley Ravenshoe II. xvi. 177 The leaven of Americanism and European Radicalism.
1896 Argosy Feb. 448/2 Senator W.E. Chandler, of New Hampshire, showed his ardent Americanism..by bringing a bill before the Senate proposing the appropriation of $100,000.000 for war purposes.
1918 T. Roosevelt in N.Y. Times 19 July 6/6 There can be no fifty-fifty Americanism in this country. There is room here for only 100 per cent. Americanism... No man who is not 100 per cent. American is entitled to the support of any party.
1941 W. J. Cash Mind of South iii. ii. 295 The militant and intolerant ‘Americanism’ propaganda by such national confraternities..as the American Legion..found more receptive soil than in Dixie.
2006 Time Out N.Y. 19 Jan. 93/1 His latest film looks to dismantle ugly Americanism and bomb-first foreign policy with equal sharpness.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2008; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1781