Meanings
nounforeignism (countable and uncountable, plural foreignisms)
plural foreignisms
- uncountableA tendency to favor what is foreign.
Synonyms & antonyms
nounA trait, custom, phrase, or characteristic typical of a foreign country or language.
Similar
Origin
- Proto-Indo-European*dʰwer-
- Proto-Indo-European*dʰworéh₂
- Proto-Italic*þworā
- Proto-Italic*fworā
- Proto-Italic*forā
- Latin*fora
- Latinforās
- Proto-Indo-European*dʰwer-
- Proto-Indo-European*dʰwṓr
- Proto-Italic*θworeis < *θworis
- Latinforīs < foris
- Vulgar Latin*forānus
- Old Frenchforain
- Middle Englishferinflu.
- Middle Englishforeyn
- Englishreigninflu.?
- Englishforeign
- Englishforeignism
From foreign + -ism. First attested in 1779.
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Esperanto fremdismo
- fremdismoa trait, custom, phrase, or characteristic typical of a foreign country or language
Portuguese estrangeirismo
- estrangeirismoa trait, custom, phrase, or characteristic typical of a foreign country or language
Spanish extranjerismo
- extranjerismoa trait, custom, phrase, or characteristic typical of a foreign country or language
Cite this entry
APA
foreignism. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/foreignism
MLA
“foreignism.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/foreignism. Accessed November 2, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “foreignism,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/foreignism.
Source: foreignism on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.