The new operator uses the internal [[Construct]] method, and it basically does the following: Initializes a new native object Sets the internal [[Prototype]] of this object, pointing to the Function prototype property. If the function's prototype property is not an object (a primitive values, such as a Number, String, Boolean, Undefined or Null), Object.prototype is used instead. After ...

Understanding the Context

A new expression is the whole phrase that begins with new. So what do you call just the "new" part of it? If it's wrong to call that the new operator, then we should not call "sizeof" the sizeof operator, or & the address-of operator (when it behaves like one).