oftentimes /ˈɒf(ə)ntʌɪmz, ˈɒft(ə)n-/

This may not be a fancy new word but, quite the contrary, a very old one. However, I am amazed that I survived so many years without (consciously) knowing it, as now I hear it everywhere.

 According to the dictionary, it is an archaic word in Britain, but a rather normal one in the US. Probably I have already heard it dozens of times, and simply not realized because its meaning is pretty obvious, but I have the feeling that it may have become more popular in podcasts because it sounds good.

In my own language, Spanish, it often(times) happens that in journalism there is a tendency to use longer words because they just sound fancier or more intellectual (may I say wordier?).

Well, maybe I am wrong about this, but in any case 'oftentimes' is a word used quite frequently, so it is worth to be known.

Example 1: The Candid Frame #123 - Ryan Libre (time 3:28)

You identify yourself as a documentary photographer and, how does that develop? Because, for a lot of people, when they travel to South East Asia, they oftentimes think of travel photography [...]

Example 2: This Week in Photo (TWiP) #223 - F Cancer (around minute 41 - the transcription may be not accurate as I had trouble to understand part of it)

As Frederick said, you've got to come from the same demographics, so if you are of European descent your chances may be high, because they've got bigger registries and that but, oftentimes the process of starting to look forward to a disease starts costing more, and they kind of think that the person passes away before they find a correct match.



"Wisdom is oftentimes nearer when
we stoop than when we soar"
William Wordsworth



One comment about its usage: though it is basically an alternative for 'often', it doesn't work in the same way. You can say, for instance, that

'Oftentimes' can be heard very often.

but it would not work reversed:



'Often' can be heard very oftentimes

You could if, instead, you placed it at the beginning:

Very often you can hear the word 'oftentimes', but oftentimes you will hear instead the word 'often'

And tell me: after reading this, have you started to hear it?