Briticism (Noun)
Meaning
An expression that is used in Great Britain (especially as contrasted with American English).
Classification
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents.
Examples
- The word "lift" is a classic briticism that is often used in the UK instead of the American term "elevator".
- The phrase "chips and crisps" is a briticism that can be confusing to Americans, who use the terms "fries" and "chips" to refer to the same foods.
- In the UK, people often use the briticism "flat" to refer to what Americans would call an "apartment".
- The briticism "motorway" is used in the UK to refer to what Americans would call a "highway" or "freeway".
- The word "petrol" is a briticism that is used in the UK to refer to what Americans would call "gasoline".