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solecism Definition

sol·ecism (säl′ə siz′əm)

noun

  1. a violation of the conventional usage, grammar, etc. of a language; ungrammatical use of words (Ex.: “We done it” for “We did it”)
  2. a violation of good manners; breach of etiquette
  3. a mistake or impropriety

Etymology: L soloecismus < Gr soloikismos < soloikos, speaking incorrectly, after Soloi, city in Cilicia, whose dialect was a corrupt form of Attic

solecism Related Forms
sol′·ecist noun sol′·ecis′·tic adjective sol′·ecis′·ti·cally adverb
solecism Synonyms

solecism

n.

misuse, barbarism, impropriety, blunder, cacology; see also abuse 1, misusage.

solecism Usage Examples

Adjective modifier

  • such: I'm sure such off-message solecisms would not occur under improved modern media manipulation.
solecism Quotes

Who can speak of eternity without a solecism, or think thereof without an ecstasy? Time we may comprehend, 'tis but five days elder than ourselves.

—Browne, SirThomas

It is singular that the Japanese, who rarely commit a solecism in taste in their national costume, architecture, or decorative art, seem to be perfectly destitute of perception when they borrow ours.

—Bird, Isabella married name Isabella Bishop