Barbarism
/ˈbɑːrbəˌrɪzəm/noun
A word, phrase, or behavior regarded as uncivilized, incorrect, or crude.
Did you know?The root behind **barbarism** began as an imitation of foreign speech in Ancient Greek, and later became a loaded label for “outsiders,” proving how language itself can turn difference into power.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
βάρβαρος (barbaros)
“foreign, non-Greek; later, uncivilized”
Classical Latin
Latin
barbarus
“foreign, rude, savage”
Late Latin
Latin
barbarismus
“a foreign or incorrect form of speech”
Old French
Old French
barbarisme
“incorrect language or uncivilized conduct”
14th–15th Century
English
barbarisme
“rudeness in speech or behavior; an incorrect word or expression”
Modern English
English
barbarism
“a coarse, uncivilized, or linguistically incorrect act or expression”