bilingualism
noun
bi·lin·gual·ism (ˌ)bī-ˈliŋ-gwə-ˌli-zəm 
1
: the ability to speak two languages
2
: the frequent use (as by a community) of two languages
3
: the political or institutional recognition of two languages
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web In Ontario, and other predominantly English-speaking provinces, there is a sense that French and bilingualism are thriving in Quebec and that further regulation is unnecessary. 
Sara Miller Llana, The Christian Science Monitor, 31 Aug. 2022 Instead, for 30 years Istrians have supported a centrist political party, the Istrian Democratic Assembly, committed to bilingualism and multi-ethnic cooperation. Tony Perrottet, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 Aug. 2022 While there's often old wives' tales that say bilingualism delays reading or speaking proficiency, in fact, the opposite is true. Christina Montoya Fiedler, Good Housekeeping, 22 Aug. 2022 But critics of the bill say that stigmatizing bilingualism will prove damaging for Quebec. New York Times, 9 Oct. 2021 But critics of the bill say that stigmatizing bilingualism will prove damaging for Quebec. New York Times, 9 Oct. 2021 He is enchanted by a German scholar’s efforts to raise a bilingual daughter but also acknowledges research debunking any advantage bilingualism confers on a child. Los Angeles Times, 2 June 2022 But critics of the bill say that stigmatizing bilingualism will prove damaging for Quebec. New York Times, 9 Oct. 2021 But critics of the bill say that stigmatizing bilingualism will prove damaging for Quebec. New York Times, 9 Oct. 2021 See More
Sara Miller Llana, The Christian Science Monitor, 31 Aug. 2022 Instead, for 30 years Istrians have supported a centrist political party, the Istrian Democratic Assembly, committed to bilingualism and multi-ethnic cooperation. Tony Perrottet, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 Aug. 2022 While there's often old wives' tales that say bilingualism delays reading or speaking proficiency, in fact, the opposite is true. Christina Montoya Fiedler, Good Housekeeping, 22 Aug. 2022 But critics of the bill say that stigmatizing bilingualism will prove damaging for Quebec. New York Times, 9 Oct. 2021 But critics of the bill say that stigmatizing bilingualism will prove damaging for Quebec. New York Times, 9 Oct. 2021 He is enchanted by a German scholar’s efforts to raise a bilingual daughter but also acknowledges research debunking any advantage bilingualism confers on a child. Los Angeles Times, 2 June 2022 But critics of the bill say that stigmatizing bilingualism will prove damaging for Quebec. New York Times, 9 Oct. 2021 But critics of the bill say that stigmatizing bilingualism will prove damaging for Quebec. New York Times, 9 Oct. 2021 See More Word History
First Known Use
1873, in the meaning defined at sense 1