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a custom, trait, or thing peculiar to the united states of america or its citizens.
a word, phrase, or other language feature that is especially characteristic of the english language as spoken or written in the u.s.
devotion to or preference for the u.s. and its inst-tutions.
anything, as a custom or word, peculiar to america.
historical examples

this is the portion eaten, and to use an americanism, “it is not at all hard to take.”
fruits of queensland albert benson

americanism as typified by claude leslie is a new revelation.
oswald langdon carson jay lee

fit, an americanism denoting the preterite of the verb to fight.
the slang dictionary john camden hotten

the use of the verb to locate in the sense of to settle is said to be an americanism.
the verbalist thomas embly osmun, (aka alfred ayres)

the country is—to use an americanism—in a pretty fix, if this mcclellan turns out to be a mistake.
diary from march 4, 1861, to november 12, 1862 adam gurowski

whether an americanism or not, it would seem to be quite un-bjectionable.
the verbalist thomas embly osmun, (aka alfred ayres)

a ounce of americanism is worth a pound of red propaganda, as the poet says, or would of had he written to-day.
believe you me! nina wilc-x putnam

americanism, whatever else it may be, must be a practical americanism.
the psychology of nations g.e. partridge

if you appreciate your americanism, young man, show it by being a part of american inst-tutions.
the young man and the world albert j. beveridge

the tyranny is greatest in regard to “american” and “americanism.”
folkways william graham sumner

noun
a custom, linguistic usage, or other feature peculiar to or characteristic of the united states, its people, or their culture
loyalty to the united states, its people, customs, etc
n.

1781, in reference to words or phrases distinct from british use, coined by john witherspoon (1723-1794), president of princeton college, from american + -ism. (american english “english language as spoken in the united states” is first recorded 1806, in webster.) americanism in the patriotic sense “attachment to the u.s.” is attested from 1797, first found in the writings of thomas jefferson.