Sound & Diction
Neologism
A newly coined word or expression. Its parts and context may help the reader infer its meaning.
"'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves…" — Carroll
Don't confuse it with Catachresis. Catachresis misuses an existing word; neologism mints a new one. A portmanteau is a neologism made by fusion (slithy = slimy + lithe).
Examples
She called the tiny robots that tended her plants “gardenbots.”
“Gardenbots” is introduced as a newly coined word combining familiar parts.
slithy toves
The invented words require the reader to infer meaning from sound, word parts, and context.
Often used alongside this device
Explore devices that often appear in the same passages as neologism.
The rest of the family
Alliteration Assonance Onomatopoeia Tmesis Archaism Solecism Epithet