Hollywooddom

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The world of the American film industry and the glamour, celebrity and commercial culture associated with it
2. The movie business centered on Hollywood, together with the fame and lifestyle that surround its stars
3. The entertainment establishment of Hollywood and the glitzy, celebrity-driven values it is known for

Etymology: Hollywooddom is a playful coinage built on "Hollywood," the Los Angeles district that became shorthand for the American film industry. The suffix "-dom," from Old English "-dōm," meaning state, condition, or realm, is the same ending found in "kingdom" and "freedom." Adding it to a place name turns that place into a collective domain, so the word describes the world, culture, or community of the film business. Because "-dom" attaches freely to nouns, speakers can coin such formations on the spot, and "hollywooddom" is one of many examples. It is a transparent word whose meaning can be read directly from its parts, and it carries a slightly mocking or affectionate tone, as if the film industry were a little kingdom of its own.