Definition of "idiom" in English

noun

1. A manner of speaking, a mode of expression peculiar to a language, language family, or group of people.

   • In English, idiom requires the indefinite article in a phrase such as "she's an engineer", whereas in Spanish, idiom forbids it.
   • Some of the usage prescriptions improved clarity and were kept; others that yielded discordant violations of idiom were eventually revised.

2. A language or language variety; specifically, a restricted dialect used in a given historical period, context etc.

   • In the idiom of the day, they were sutlers, although today they'd probably be called vendors.

3. An established phrasal expression whose meaning may not be deducible from the literal meanings of its component words.

   • She often spoke in idioms, pining for salad days and complaining about pots calling the kettle black.

4. An artistic style (for example, in art, architecture, or music); an instance of such a style.

   • the idiom of the expressionists