Source: Abu Hanifah / Getty
You can tell a language is doing well when it’s constantly coming up with new words, borrowing from other languages, and giving old words new meanings. Based on the latest research: English is in great shape! However, if you have an older dictionary, as in older than today, it’s out of date.
Merriam-Webster has announced they are adding 690 new words to their official listing. Lexicographers are the people who write and edit the dictionary. Lexicographers add a word to the dictionary when they determine that:
- It’s a word that’s used by a lot of people.
- It’s used by those people in largely the same way.
- It’s likely to stick around.
- And it’s useful for a general audience.
Here’s a look at a handful of the 690 fresh additions they’ve added to their dictionary recently. ngl, the full list is long!
Source: John Kevin / Getty
Dictionary Adds: Slang and Informal
rizz noun, slang : romantic appeal or charm
zhuzh noun : a small improvement, adjustment, or addition that completes the overall look, taste, etc. of something; verb : to improve in flavor or appearance by way of a small improvement, adjustment, or addition — often used with up
doggo noun, slang : dog
padawan noun, informal : a young person especially when regarded as naïve, inexperienced, etc.
bingo card noun … 2 slang : a list of possible, expected, or likely scenarios — usually used in the phrase on one’s bingo card
simp verb, informal : to show excessive devotion to or longing for someone or something
cromulent adjective, informal + humorous : acceptable, satisfactory
mid adjective … 2 informal : neither very good nor very bad : so-so, meh
ngl abbreviation, informal not gonna lie; not going to lie
TTYL abbreviation, informal talk to you later
Source: MTStock Studio / Getty
Dictionary Adds: The Digital World
generative AI noun : artificial intelligence that is capable of generating new content (such as images or text) in response to a submitted prompt (such as a query) by learning from a large reference database of examples
vector graphics noun : a process of creating digital images by using mathematical formulas to specify the relationship between the elements of the image (such as the start and end points of a line) rather than by defining each individual pixel
smishing noun : the practice of sending text messages to someone in order to trick the person into revealing personal or confidential information which can then be used for criminal purposes
passkey noun … 2 : an authentication method that uses biometrics (such as fingerprint or facial recognition) to identify and grant access to an authorized user
hallucination noun … 3 : a plausible but false or misleading response generated by an artificial intelligence algorithm
Source: Radoslaw Maciejewski / Getty
Dictionary Adds: The Analog World
UAP abbreviation or noun : unidentified aerial phenomenon (a mysterious flying object in the sky that is sometimes assumed to be a spaceship from another planet); also : unidentified anomalous phenomenon (a mysterious phenomenon, especially an unidentified aerial phenomenon, that is sometimes assumed to be a spaceship from another planet)
rewild verb 1 : to return to a more natural or wild state : to make or become natural or wild again; specifically : to increase biodiversity and restore the natural processes of an ecosystem typically by reducing or ceasing human activity and reintroducing plant and animal species 2 : to return (an animal) to the wild
crate-dig verb : to shop for rare, vintage, or obscure recordings especially by searching through crates of secondhand merchandise
tiny house noun : a small house or mobile home that typically has a floor plan of less than 500 square feet and that is usually designed for ergonomics and space efficiency
Source: Jacob Wackerhausen / Getty
Dictionary Adds: Gaming and Other Screens
cutscene noun : a noninteractive video sequence that occurs between segments of a video game and depicts part of the game’s background or storyline
nerf verb 1 informal : to reduce the effectiveness of (something, such as a character, attribute, or weapon) in a video game; broadly : to make (something) less useful or effective 2 informal : to lightly bump (another car) in an automobile race
non-player character noun : NPC: a : a character in a video game that does not represent and cannot be manipulated by a player b : a character in a role-playing board game, card game, or live-action game that is controlled or performed by an organizer, facilitator, or supporting participant
speedrun noun : timed playthrough of a video game or portion of a video game completed as quickly as the player is able to complete it
rage quit verb : to suddenly stop participating or engaging in (something) in a fit of anger and frustration : to quit (something) in anger
cold open noun : a scene of a film or television episode that precedes the title sequence or opening credits and that typically takes place in medias res
jump scare noun : a scripted moment (as in a film or video game) intended to startle the audience
logline noun : a simple synopsis of a screenplay, film, novel, etc. that is used for pitching (see pitch entry 3 sense 3c) or promotion
vanity card noun : the logo of a production company that appears briefly on-screen following the credits for a television show or movie
Source: fotostorm / Getty
Dictionary Adds: Culture and Society, Online and Offline
thirst trap noun : a photograph (such as a selfie) or video shared for the purpose of attracting attention or desire; also : someone or something that attracts attention or strong desire
doomscroll verb : to spend excessive time online scrolling (see scroll entry 2) through news or other content that makes one feel sad, anxious, angry, etc.
edgelord noun, slang : someone who makes wildly dark and exaggerated statements (as on an internet forum) with the intent of shocking others
finsta noun, slang : a secret or incognito account on the Instagram photo-sharing service
quiet quit verb : to do the minimum amount of work required for a job : to engage in quiet quitting
prosocial adjective : intended to help or benefit another person or group
cape verb : to act as a defender or supporter
chef’s kiss noun : a gesture of satisfaction or approval made by kissing the fingertips of one hand and then spreading the fingers with an outward motion — often used interjectionally
Source: heinstirred / Getty
Dictionary Adds: Food and How It’s Made
stagiaire noun : a usually unpaid intern working in a professional kitchen as part of their training to become a chef : a cook who is doing a stage
stage noun 1 : a usually unpaid internship in a professional kitchen that is part of a chef’s training 2 : a person who holds such an internship : stagiaire
cheffy adjective : characteristic of or befitting a professional chef (as in showiness, complexity, or exoticness)
emping noun : a slightly bitter cracker or chip popular in Indonesia that is made from the dried flattened seed of a melinjo tree (Gnetum gnemon)
jollof rice noun : a West African dish of rice cooked in a sauce of tomatoes and onions seasoned usually with garlic, thyme, hot pepper, and other spices and often accompanied by meat, fish, or vegetables
smashburger noun 1 : a hamburger patty that is pressed thin onto a heated pan or griddle at the start of cooking; also : a patty (as of beans or ground turkey) prepared similarly 2 : a sandwich featuring one or more such patties
Source: Veronika Peskova / Getty
Dictionary Adds: Climate and the Environment
carbon capture and storage noun : any of various methods of removing and storing carbon dioxide produced by industrial processes to keep it from entering the atmosphere
forever chemical noun : a toxic substance and especially a synthetic chemical (as of the per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances group) that persists and accumulates in the environment — not used technically
nurdle noun : a plastic pellet (see pellet entry 1 sense 1a) that is usually less than 0.2 inch (0.5 centimeter) in diameter or length, that is the raw material from which plastic products are manufactured, and that is a common pollutant of global waters and beaches — not used technically
green chemistry noun : an approach to designing and creating chemical processes and products that are safer for humans and the environment, that minimize waste, and that are energy efficient
Source: Elsa Garrison – International Skating Union / Getty
Dictionary Adds: Sports and Exercise
kayfabe noun 1 : the tacit agreement between professional wrestlers and their fans to pretend that overtly staged wrestling events, stories, characters, etc., are genuine; broadly : tacit agreement to behave as if something is real, sincere, or genuine when it is not 2 : the playacting involved in maintaining kayfabe
kiss-and-cry noun : an area adjacent to a skating rink where figure skaters wait for their marks immediately after performing in a competition
tabata noun : a type of high-intensity interval training that usually consists of eight sets of exercises (such as jumping jacks) each performed at maximum intensity for 20 seconds interspersed with a brief rest of 10 seconds
battle rope noun : a piece of fitness equipment consisting of a thick heavy long rope that is typically anchored to a solid surface (such as a wall or post) at one end and gripped in the hand at the other end and that is usually used in pairs in exercises involving moving the arms up and down to cause the ropes to move in continuous waves or slam against the ground
beast mode noun, slang : an extremely aggressive or energetic style or manner that someone (such as an athlete) adopts temporarily (as to overpower an opponent in a fight or competition)
Source: bymuratdeniz / Getty
Dictionary Adds: Doing Business
meme stock noun : a stock (see stock entry 1 sense 2a) that experiences a temporary sudden surge in popularity and price due to a coordinated effort (such as a viral social media campaign) by small investors
last mile noun : the final stage of the distance that must be covered by a service (as a telecommunications network or delivery service) in order to reach a consumer
girlboss noun : an ambitious and successful woman (especially a businesswoman or entrepreneur)
street date noun : the date set by a manufacturer or publisher as the first day a product may be sold to consumers
