culture shock
noun
a state of bewilderment and distress experienced by an individual who is suddenly exposed to a new, strange, or foreign social and cultural environment.
Origin of culture shock
First recorded in 1955–60
OTHER WORDS FROM culture shock
cul·ture-shocked, adjectiveWords nearby culture shock
British Dictionary definitions for culture shock
culture shock
noun
sociol
the feelings of isolation, rejection, etc, experienced when one culture is brought into sudden contact with another, as when a primitive tribe is confronted by modern civilization
Medical definitions for culture shock
culture shock
n.
A condition of confusion and anxiety affecting a person suddenly exposed to an unfamiliar culture or milieu.
Idioms and Phrases with culture shock
culture shock
A state of confusion and anxiety experienced by someone upon encountering an alien environment. For example, It's not just jet lag—it's the culture shock of being in a new country. This term was first used by social scientists to describe, for example, the experience of a person moving from the country to a big city. It is now used more loosely, as in the example. [Late 1930s]