LISTEN: Merriam-Webster adds 'IDGAF' and more in new update
You might be surprised to learn which 200 new words have made the cut!
It seems like new words and phrases are popping up every day.
Even though we might be using these very demure and lit terms as they become part of the general language, they aren't necessarily officially recognised.
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Beyoncé paved the way after 'Bootylicious' was added to the Oxford English Dictionary, and now, more fun words are getting their moment in the sun.
Merriam-Webster has announced its most recent dictionary additions which include 200 new words and definitions.
As usual, you will be surprised to find words you didn't know existed, ones you assumed already had entries and others you never thought would become official.
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Some of the words in the "surprised they weren't included already category" include:
- burrata - "mozzarella formed into a ball-shaped casing that contains curds and cream".
- true crime - "a nonfiction genre of literature, film, podcasts, etc. that depicts and examines real crime cases".
- creepy-crawly - "an organism (such as a spider, beetle, or cockroach) that typically crawls along close to or on the ground and is often considered unwanted or unpleasant".
Then there are the more viral words:
- IDGAF - "an explicit internet abbreviation used to express disinterest".
- Nepo-baby - "a person who gains success or opportunities through familial connections".
The list includes a wide variety of words that represent today's culture through language, with political entries such as MAGA, far left, and far right.
Our lexicographers monitor a huge range of sources to select which words and definitions to add. From academic journals to social media, these give us a very thorough view of the English language.
Gregory Barlow, the President of Merriam-Webster, also explains that the one constant of a vibrant living language is change.
People are continuously finding new ways of describing the world around us and dictionaries should reflect that.
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