What I love about English as a language is that it’s not static, it’s growing and changing with the times. Merriam-Webster is truly embracing these changes. We’re getting so many fun new words in the dictionary, that the only difference between a ‘real’ word and a ‘made up’ word is how many people use it. Shakespeare isn’t the only one who can fill up a dictionary. Here are my ten favorite additions to the ranks of ‘real’ words in 2021.
Hard pass: a firm refusal or rejection of something (such as an offer)
Performative disapproving: made or done for show (as to bolster one’s own image or make a positive impression on others)
@ informal: to respond to, challenge, or disparage the claim or opinion of (someone) —usually used in the phrase don’t @ me
Flex informal: an act of bragging or showing off
BIPOC (abbreviation): Black, Indigenous, (and) People of Color
Silver fox: an attractive middle-aged man having mostly gray or white hair
dad bod informal: a physique regarded as typical of an average father; especially: one that is slightly overweight and not extremely muscular.
otaku: a person having an intense or obsessive interest especially in the fields of anime and manga —often used before another noun.
copypasta: data (such as a block of text) that has been copied and spread widely online. Copypasta can be a lighthearted meme or it can have a more serious intent, with a political or cultural message.
FTW: an abbreviation for “for the win” —used especially to express approval or support. In social media, FTW is often used to acknowledge a clever or funny response to a question or meme.
Featured Image Via Cambridge Dictionary