A variety of new terms have made their way into the dictionary, including some that might raise eyebrows.
In a statement, Merriam-Webster explained, “Just as language is always changing, so too is the dictionary.” This year, they have added a total of 455 new words to reflect our evolving society. Some of these additions stem from the pandemic, while others are tech-related or simply reflect our growing tendency to abbreviate language.
Among the newly added words, “dad bod” stands out, describing the physique many adopt after becoming a father, particularly one that is a bit out of shape and lacks extreme muscle definition. Other notable inclusions are “TBH,” short for “to be honest,” and “fluffernutter,” which is just fun to say—and eat!
The list of new words encompasses a wide range of categories, including pop culture, medicine, politics, and food, creating a diverse lexicon. However, two somewhat cringeworthy additions for language enthusiasts are “amirite,” a colloquialism for “am I right,” and the word “because,” which now carries a new meaning: to avoid overly technical explanations or to dismiss reasoning altogether.
Words reflecting our pandemic reality, such as “super-spreader,” “long COVID,” and “vaccine passport,” have also been incorporated, as they will likely remain relevant for years. Additionally, the political landscape is represented with terms like “whataboutism,” which describes the tactic of deflecting an accusation by pointing out a similar or worse offense by someone else.
Naturally, the latest updates include new culinary terms we’ve embraced, like “air fryer,” and fun ones like “fluffernutter.”
Merriam-Webster previously updated its dictionary in January, adding 520 new terms, including “flex,” “cancel culture,” and “silver fox.” But how do they choose which words make the cut?
According to their website, “Each day, most Merriam-Webster editors spend an hour or two poring over a variety of published materials, including books, newspapers, magazines, and online content.” This process, referred to as “reading and marking,” involves identifying new words, fresh usages of existing terms, variant spellings, and other forms that may warrant inclusion in the dictionary. Sounds reasonable, TBH. Amirite?
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In summary, Merriam-Webster’s latest update reflects a fascinating array of new words shaped by cultural shifts, the pandemic, and modern communication habits. As language continues to evolve, these additions provide insight into our changing world.