Dictionary
lexicalization
noun lex·i·cal·i·za·tion \ˌlek-si-kə-lə-ˈzā-shən\
Definition of LEXICALIZATION
1
: the realization of a meaning in a single word or morpheme rather than in a grammatical construction
2
: the treatment of a formerly freely composed, grammatically regular, and semantically transparent phrase or inflected form as a formally or semantically idiomatic expression
— lex·i·cal·ize \ˈlek-si-kə-ˌlīz\ transitive verb
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First Known Use of LEXICALIZATION
1949
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