What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
recoining
Example
The author is known for recoining words and phrases in his writing. [recoining: verb]
Example
The term 'fake news' has been recoined to refer to misinformation spread on social media. [recoined: past participle]
coinage
Example
The word 'selfie' is a recent coinage that has become popular in everyday language. [coinage: noun]
Example
Shakespeare is credited with many English coinages, including 'eyeball' and 'swagger'. [coinages: plural noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Recoining is more commonly used than coinage since it involves modifying existing words, which is a more frequent occurrence in language use. Coinage is less common since it involves creating a completely new word, which is a less frequent occurrence.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between recoining and coinage?
Both recoining and coinage are neutral in terms of formality and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.