"neologism" also has a broader meaning, of "a word which has gained a new meaning". Sometimes the latter process is called "semantic shifting" or "semantic extension". Neologisms are distinct from a person's idiolect, one's unique patterns of vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation.

Neologisms are usually introduced when a concept is lacking a term, or when an existing term lacks detail, or when a speaker is unaware of the existing term. The law, governmental bodies, and technology have a relatively high