In a recent blog post, Dictionary.com revealed the addition of 327 new words and phrases, characterizing them as expressions that summarize the various facets of contemporary life.
The publication highlighted the diligent efforts of lexicographers, who are actively updating the dictionary to encompass the ever-evolving English language.
The expanded lexicon introduces terms like “skiplagging” and “range anxiety,” described as gems of language for articulating nuanced concepts. TikTok enthusiasts may recognize 'girls dinner' from a viral video from 2023, cementing its place in the dictionary.
In addition to the new entries, Dictionary.com shared news about adding 173 new definitions and revising 1,228 existing ones. Founded in 1995 by Brian Kariger and Daniel Fierro, Dictionary.com has around 70 million monthly users and more than 100 million word enthusiasts have downloaded the platform.
The selection of the 2024 terms reflects contemporary social issues, fashion trends and well-being. “Girls' dinner,” for example, is defined as a variety of attractively presented snacks that are considered sufficient as a meal for one person. 'Skiplagging' offers a solution to avoid higher airfares, involving booking a flight with a stopover and disembarking at the stopover destination rather than the end.
The term “range anxiety” addresses the fear that an electric vehicle's battery will run out before reaching its destination or a charging station. This addition coincides with the growing popularity of all-electric vehicles: more than one million Americans purchased them last year.
Notable additions to the lexicon include 'shacket', 'keto flu' and 'climate crash', reflecting the dynamic evolution of language to summarize contemporary experiences.
