Heads up, everyone! On top of helping Sean Spicer define basic vocabulary words, the Merriam-Webster Dictionary has somehow found the time to add over 1,000 new words to their database.
“This is a significant addition of words to our dictionary, and it reflects both the breadth of English vocabulary and the speed with which that vocabulary changes,” explains Lisa Schneider, Chief Digital Officer & Publisher at Merriam-Webster
Peter Sokolowski, Editor-at-Large, adds, “These entries also highlight the value of crafting useful and readable definitions that require the unique expertise and experience of our staff.”
Many of the new words can be traced back to pop culture, science, and even everyday conversation.
Source: Entertainment Weekly
The following is just a handful (but an eyebrow-raising handful!) of the new words that Merriam-Webster has added:
- Snollygoster (a shrewd, unprincipled person)
- Mumblecore (a genre of narrative film focusing primarily on the intimate lives of young characters and featuring scenes of ample dialogue and minimal action)
- Up-fake (a fake in which a player makes an upward movement to simulate starting to take a shot)
- Weak sauce (something inferior, ineffective, or unimpressive)
- Prosopagnosia (a form of visual agnosia characterized by an inability to recognize faces)
- Throw shade (to use a subtle, sneering expression of contempt for or disgust with someone)
- Micro agression (a comment or action that subtly and often unconsciously or unintentionally expresses a prejudiced attitude toward a member of a marginalized group (such as a racial minority))
- Seussian (of, relating to, or suggestive of the works of Dr. Seuss)
Source: Madin Crafts
- Humblebrag (to make a seemingly modest, self-critical, or casual statement or reference that is meant to draw attention to one’s admirable or impressive qualities or achievements)
- Truther (one who believes that the truth about an important subject or event is being concealed from the public by a powerful conspiracy)
- Food insecure (unable to consistently access or afford adequate food)
- Net neutrality (the idea, principle, or requirement that Internet service providers should or must treat all Internet data as the same regardless of its kind, source, or destination)
For the full list of new words and definitions, see the Merriam-Webster website.
Is there a word or phrase that you think should be added to dictionaries? Share your thoughts below!
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Featured image via Entertainment Weekly