variants often Anglicism
1
: a characteristic feature of English occurring in another language
2
: adherence or attachment to English customs or ideas

Word History

Etymology

Medieval Latin anglicus English

First Known Use

1642, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of anglicism was in 1642

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Anglicism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anglicism. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on anglicism

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!