Definition of "barbarism" in English

noun

1. A barbaric act.

   • These barbarisms can not be allowed to continue; they must be crushed or civilization will collapse.

2. The condition of existing barbarically.

3. A word hybridizing Ancient Greek and Latin or other heterogeneous roots.

4. An error in language use within a single word, such as a mispronunciation.

   • In the jargon of the ancient grammarian, penacilin would be a barbarism.