Coined: meaning, definitions and examples

Etymology

• The word 'coin' comes from the Latin 'cuneus', meaning 'wedge', referring to the shape of metal coins.
• The verb 'to coin' emerged in the late 14th century, highlighting the act of creating currency and extending to words.
• In early England, coin-making was an essential trade, leading to the association between minting coins and minting new words.

Literature

• Literary figures like William Shakespeare are known for coining numerous words still used in English today, such as 'swagger' and 'lonely'.
• Modern authors and poets continue to expand the language by inventing terms that resonate with current events and culture.
• In science fiction, many new phrases are coined to describe futuristic concepts and technologies, influencing mainstream vocabulary.

Pop Culture

• Terms like 'selfie' and 'hangry' were coined in the past few decades, reflecting societal trends and the rise of social media.
• Merchandise and fandom culture frequently give birth to new words; phrases like 'shipping' have become mainstream through community engagement.
• The film industry often coins terms for genres and trends, such as 'mockumentary' for a style of comedic filmmaking.

Science

• The scientific community often coins new terms to describe groundbreaking discoveries, like 'quark' in particle physics.
• Medical advancements lead to coined terms such as 'helicobacter' for the bacteria linked to stomach ulcers, showcasing the word's role in knowledge dissemination.
• In technology, terms like 'cloud computing' are coined to represent new paradigms that change how people view information systems.

Psychology

• The phrase 'cognitive dissonance' was coined by psychologist Leon Festinger in the 1950s to explain conflicting beliefs and behaviors.
• New mental health terms like 'mindfulness' are coined as awareness about mental well-being grows across cultures.
• The act of coining phrases can influence how people think about their experiences, tooling the language for better emotional expression.

Ranked #11,998, this word falls into high-advanced vocabulary. It appears less frequently but is valuable for expressing precise meanings in specific contexts.

• ...
• 11995 conserved
• 11996 impoverished
• 11997 watery
• 11998 coined
• 11999 spectacles
• 12000 warp
• 12001 politely
• ...