Merriam-Webster upgraded its dictionary this 2016 after the company officially acknowledged almost 2,000 words and phrases last week. Popular acronyms like ICYMI, FOMO and TMI are among the Merriam-Webster dictionary's latest additions.
According to the New York Post, Merriam-Webster said in a press release that the latest additions to its unabridged dictionary are a reflection on how the English language evolved. Most of the new entries are words and phrases used in science, technology, fashion, personal identity and slang conversations.
Widely Used Acronyms Made It To The Merriam-Webster Dictionary
Time reports that some of the notable new entries of the Merriam Webster dictionary are the popularly used acronyms. Among these are ICYMI (in case you missed it), FOMO (fear of missing out) and TMI (too much information).
Merriam-Webster disclosed that the dictionary's latest additions were thoroughly screened. "It doesn't happen quickly - we monitored many of these words for years before they'd met our criteria for entry," the company stated.
Merriam-Webster Added New LGBTQ Terms
Several terms related to the LGBTQ community were also officially recognized by Merriam-Webster on its dictionary's latest additions. These include "genderqueer" (a person who does not want to be identified as solely male or female) and "cisgender" (a person whose gender identity corresponds with their sex at birth).
Moreover, the dictionary also acknowledged the use of "Mx." as a gender-neutral title for those who do not want to be tagged as Mr. or Mrs.
More Modern And Odd Terms On Merriam-Webster Dictionary
Modern words and phrases used online also made it to Merriam Webster dictionary's latest additions. "Dox" (to publicly publish private information as a form of punishment or revenge), "revenge porn" (sexually explicit images posted online as a form of revenge or harassment) and "trigger warning" (a statement cautioning that content may be disturbing or upsetting) are part of the new entries.
Moreover, Merriam-Webster also recognized some odd words. Among these are "wacky tobacky" (marijuana), "nomophobia" (fear of being without access to a working cell phone) and "waggle dance" (a series of figure-eight movements performed by a bee to indicate the direction and abundance of a distant food source).
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