Standard Lemma guide

idiomatic

adj · noun · 7 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • ĭd′ē-ə-măt′ĭk
  • Received-Pronunciation, contemporary: /ˌɪd.iː.əˈmat.ɪk/
  • /ˌɪd.iː.əˈmæt.ɪk/ conservative Received Pronunciation; Australian
  • AuE Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • Canada, General-American: /ˌɪd.i.əˈmæt.ɪk/
  • New-Zealand: /ˌəd.iː.əˈmɛt.ək/
  • Scotland: /ˌɪd.i.əˈmat.ɪk/
  • rhymes with -ætɪk
  • CMU ARPABET: IH2 D IY0 AH0 M AE1 T IH0 K Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Pertaining or conforming to idiom, the natural mode of expression of a language.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • The inclusion or omission of definite articles follows idiomatic norms in each language and depends on context and intent.
  • In English, the only idiomatic position for a pronoun as the object of a phrasal verb is before the particle, whereas a noun as object can fall either before or after the particle; thus only he picked them up but either he picked his tools up or he picked up his tools.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adj

Meaning 2

Resembling or characteristic of an idiom.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • An idiomatic phrase that warns us against Pollyannaism is "don't count your chickens before they're hatched".

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

adj

Meaning 3

Using many idioms.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

adj

Meaning 4

Relating to parts or pieces which are written both within the natural physical limitations of the instrument and human body and, less so or less often, the styles of playing used on specific instruments.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: entertainment, lifestyle, music

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

adj

Meaning 5

Following the conventions of the language, or doing things in the common way for the language, rather than code that is ported from another language and therefore may not follow the common conventions.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: computing, engineering, mathematics, natural-sciences, physical-sciences, programming, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

noun

Meaning 6

Synonym of idiom.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: idiom

Antonyms: none provided

7

adjective

Meaning 7

of or relating to or conforming to idiom

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • idiomatic English

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: idiomatical

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From Ancient Greek ἰδιωματικός (idiōmatikós, “related to an idiom”), from ἰδίωμα (idíōma, “idiom”).

Across languages

Translations

48 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: idiomàtic — pertaining or conforming to the mode of expression characteristic of a language
  • Czech: idiomatický — pertaining or conforming to the mode of expression characteristic of a language
  • Danish: idiomatisk — pertaining or conforming to the mode of expression characteristic of a language
  • Dutch: idiomatisch — pertaining or conforming to the mode of expression characteristic of a language
  • Finnish: idiomaattinen — pertaining or conforming to the mode of expression characteristic of a language
  • French: idiomatique — pertaining or conforming to the mode of expression characteristic of a language
  • Galician: idiomático — pertaining or conforming to the mode of expression characteristic of a language
  • German: idiomatisch — pertaining or conforming to the mode of expression characteristic of a language
  • Greek: ιδιωματικός (idiomatikós) — pertaining or conforming to the mode of expression characteristic of a language
  • Italian: idiomatico — pertaining or conforming to the mode of expression characteristic of a language
  • Japanese: 熟語 (jukugo) — pertaining or conforming to the mode of expression characteristic of a language
  • Manx: dooghyssagh — pertaining or conforming to the mode of expression characteristic of a language
  • Norwegian: idiomatisk — pertaining or conforming to the mode of expression characteristic of a language
  • Polish: idiomatyczny — pertaining or conforming to the mode of expression characteristic of a language
  • Portuguese: expressão idiomática — pertaining or conforming to the mode of expression characteristic of a language
  • Portuguese: idiomatismo — pertaining or conforming to the mode of expression characteristic of a language
  • Portuguese: idiotismo — pertaining or conforming to the mode of expression characteristic of a language
  • Romanian: idiomatic — pertaining or conforming to the mode of expression characteristic of a language
  • Russian: идиомати́ческий (idiomatíčeskij) — pertaining or conforming to the mode of expression characteristic of a language
  • Serbo-Croatian: идио̀матскӣ — pertaining or conforming to the mode of expression characteristic of a language
  • Serbo-Croatian: idiòmatskī — pertaining or conforming to the mode of expression characteristic of a language
  • Sicilian: diumàticu — pertaining or conforming to the mode of expression characteristic of a language
  • Slovak: idiomatický — pertaining or conforming to the mode of expression characteristic of a language
  • Spanish: idiomático — pertaining or conforming to the mode of expression characteristic of a language
  • Tagalog: kawikaanin — pertaining or conforming to the mode of expression characteristic of a language
  • Welsh: idiomatig — pertaining or conforming to the mode of expression characteristic of a language
  • Welsh: priodweddol — pertaining or conforming to the mode of expression characteristic of a language
  • Chinese Mandarin: 象成语 — resembling or characteristic of an idiom
  • Finnish: idiomaattinen — resembling or characteristic of an idiom
  • Galician: idiomático — resembling or characteristic of an idiom
  • Manx: corghlaragh — resembling or characteristic of an idiom
  • Manx: abbyrtagh — resembling or characteristic of an idiom
  • Norwegian: idiomatisk — resembling or characteristic of an idiom
  • Polish: idiomowy — resembling or characteristic of an idiom
  • Portuguese: expressão idiomática — resembling or characteristic of an idiom
  • Portuguese: idiomatismo — resembling or characteristic of an idiom
  • Portuguese: idiotismo — resembling or characteristic of an idiom
  • Russian: идиомати́чный (idiomatíčnyj) — resembling or characteristic of an idiom
  • Scottish Gaelic: gnàthasach — resembling or characteristic of an idiom
  • Slovak: idiomatický — resembling or characteristic of an idiom
  • Tagalog: kawikaanin — resembling or characteristic of an idiom
  • Finnish: idiomaattinen — using many idioms
  • Polish: idiomatyczny — using many idioms
  • Russian: идиомати́чный (idiomatíčnyj) — using many idioms
  • Scottish Gaelic: gnàthasach — using many idioms
  • Slovak: idiomatický — using many idioms
  • Polish: idiomatyczny — parts or pieces of or styles of playing music
  • Slovak: idiomatický — parts or pieces of or styles of playing music
Real reading context

idiomatic in complete knowledge articles

Rearguard Language & communication · Advanced · 2 uses