AMERICANALMANAC (Alan Benson) - Merriam-Webster drops 1,400 new words into its dictionary — and internet slang leads the way
Merriam-Webster just added 1,400 words and definitions to its dictionary, and the batch leans heavily on internet culture, AI jargon, and social-media slang that says more about the digital age than the English language. The dictionary publisher announced the update on its website this week, calling the new entries a reflection of "words and meanings […] The post Merriam-Webster drops 1,400 new words into its dictionary — and internet slang leads the way appeared first on American Almanac .
Merriam-Webster just added 1,400 words and definitions to its dictionary, and the batch leans heavily on internet culture, AI jargon, and social-media slang that says more about the digital age than the English language. The dictionary publisher announced the update on its website this week, calling the new entries a reflection of "words and meanings that have demonstrated widespread use over time, offering a window into the world today." Among the additions: "looksmaxxing," "cuffing season," "uncanny valley," "meme coin," "parasocial," "vibe coding," "shapewear," "compute," and "superfood." That window, if you take the list at face value, opens onto a culture increasingly shaped by screens, algorithms, and fleeting online trends.…Open