Language is constantly evolving and the folks at Dictionary.com have their work cut out for them just trying to keep up. They recently announced an update to the dictionary, adding 59-hundred new words and more than 12-hundred revisions to existing entries. The new batch runs the gamut from Internet slang and AI jargon to sustainability terms, global foods, and health language.
Here are some of the more interesting additions:
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- Goated: So good that people consider it one of the greatest of all time.
- Glow-up: A noticeable upgrade in someone’s looks, confidence, style, or overall vibe.
- Reply guy: A man who is constantly popping up in women’s social media replies, usually in a way that gets annoying or inappropriate.
- Lost in the sauce: Confused, distracted, out of it, or just not totally sure what’s going on.
- Kiki: A get-together with close friends, usually with plenty of gossip involved.
- Context window: How much text an AI system can keep track of and work with at one time.
- Model collapse: When AI starts producing worse results because too much of its training material came from other AI.
- Overprompt: Giving an AI so many instructions that you actually make the answer worse.
- Love bomb: Showering someone with tons of affection and attention, often to manipulate them.
- Trauma bond: A strong emotional attachment to someone who treats you badly, especially when the bad behavior is mixed with affection or kindness.
- Greenhushing: When a company keeps quiet about its environmental efforts because it doesn’t want extra scrutiny.
- Sponge city: A city designed to soak up and manage rainwater better using things like parks, wetlands, and other green spaces.
- Quesabirria: A cheesy quesadilla stuffed with birria-style beef, usually served with dipping broth.
- IYKYK: “If you know, you know.” Basically, an inside reference for people who get it.
- ELI5: “Explain like I’m five.” In other words, make it really simple.
- STBX: “Soon-to-be ex,” usually referring to a spouse or partner.
Dictionary.com notes that these aren’t necessarily brand-new words. At some point, when a word is being used widely and consistently enough and they think it’s going to stick around, it warrants getting added to the list. So if you’ve ever been lost in the sauce while trying to ELI5 to someone who is otherwise goated, congratulations, the dictionary has finally caught up with you.
Source: USA Today
