Briticism
UK English term
A Briticism is a word, phrase, or usage characteristic of British English rather than American or other varieties: Lift instead of elevator, lorry instead of truck, brilliant as an exclamation.
The term mirrors Americanism, which describes distinctly American expressions.
British freight vehicle
- flatLacking vertical variation
- liftMechanism for vertical transport
- biscuitSmall baked quick bread
- queueOrdered waiting line
fortnight · loo · rubbish · petrol · chemist · boot · bonnet · pavement
US-specific word or phrase
- AustralianismExpression from down under
- CanadianismDistinctly northern expression
- colloquialismCasual conversational expression
- idiomFixed phrase, opaque meaning
slang · expression · term · phrase · usage · word · saying · coinage
Steeped leaf beverage
- pubLicensed drinking establishment
- monarchyRule by crowned sovereign
- cricketChirping legged insect
- BBCBritish public broadcaster
queuing · double-decker · fish and chips · scones · High Street · red phone box · Union Jack · Wimbledon
Word origin study
- lexicographyCompiling word reference books
- lexicologyScience of vocabulary analysis
- morphologyStudy of structural forms
- semanticsStudy of linguistic meaning
phonology · dialectology · philology · syntax · grammar · pronunciation · accent · variant
lorry
British freight vehicle
queue · fortnight · loo · rubbish · petrol · chemist · boot · bonnet · pavement · nappy
Americanism
US-specific word or phrase
- AustralianismExpression from down under
- CanadianismDistinctly northern expression
- colloquialismCasual conversational expression
idiom · slang · expression · term · phrase · usage · word · saying · coinage · neologism
tea
Steeped leaf beverage
BBC · queuing · double-decker · fish and chips · scones · High Street · red phone box · Union Jack · Wimbledon · Shakespeare
etymology
Word origin study
- lexicographyCompiling word reference books
- lexicologyScience of vocabulary analysis
- morphologyStudy of structural forms
semantics · phonology · dialectology · philology · syntax · grammar · pronunciation · accent · variant · cognate
BriticismAmericanism
US-specific word or phrase
American English · Canadianism · Australianism · Irish English