New words don't need centuries-old history to end up in the Oxford English Dictionary, they need to pass a proper period and be used frequently enough to be recognized as part of the English language, whether they are colloquial or not.
The latest quarterly update to the Oxford English Dictionary included more than 1400,700 fully revised and updated entries, and more than <> new words, phrases and meanings appearing for the first time, some of which are completely new entries such as CODA, someone with parents or children with hearing loss and deafness.
Not all added words are new, some are old words revealed by language experts, and others are new entries for words that already exist. Many of these terms provide a unique insight into the use of the language in the United Kingdom, while some appear to have originated in the United States and were used across the Atlantic.
The following are the most prominent new words that have been introduced to the Oxford Dictionary:-
1- Deepfake
Deepfake: A word used to describe videos and images created using machine learning and artificial intelligence to create complex and realistic manipulations. Computational techniques are used to alter video content or replace a person's facial or outward image with someone else's details to create fake clips that are difficult to distinguish from the original. These technologies are maliciously used to spread false news, fake identity and be spoofed.
Deepfakes can also replace one sound with another, or the surroundings and background in the clip with another ocean and background entirely, and deepfakes techniques were invented mainly in the world of visual effects to serve artistic and cinematic purposes, and the beginnings of the creation of this technology were in 1997 in a simplified and initial way. But it has gradually evolved to its highest potential since 2016, and continues to evolve almost daily.
Perhaps one of the most prominent examples of deepfakes is that of Mark Zuckerberg, the founder and CEO of Facebook and his parent company Meta, admitting to conspiring to share user data.
2- antigram
"Antigram" is a word or phrase that consists of rearranging the letters of another word or phrase to create a new meaning that is contradictory or opposite to the original word or phrase. For example, "Real fun" is an antigram for "funeral", and true lady is an antigram for adultery as it has the same letters but with completely different and contradictory meanings.
Also, "listen" and "silent" are antigrams because they contain the same letters but with opposite meanings. Also, "debit card" and "bad credit" are antigrams because they contain the same letters but with opposite meanings.
3- Groomzilla
Gromzila is a compound word composed of "groom" and "Godzilla", used to describe a groom who is overly controlling or too demanding about the details of his wedding planning, until it reaches an excessive or unreasonable level.
American actress and fashion designer Kathy Hilton has described her son-in-law, entrepreneur Carter Riom, as "Gromzila" because of his antics at his wedding and abusing her, where he would contact the band, the party planner, hotels and everything, he even prepared invitations through preparing the wedding cake, and he received the nickname of octopus after he participated in small and large while planning the wedding.
The word is derived from "bridezilla", which is used to describe a bride whose requirements are too much or too difficult.
4- Agrivoltaics
Agriculture or solar farms: It means "the simultaneous use of an area of land for agriculture and electricity generation using solar and photovoltaic panels". This innovative method emerged in 2021 to help combat climate change by transitioning to renewable energy sources, increasing crop efficiency and reducing its environmental impact, among many other benefits. But it has not yet reached most of the subtropics and semi-arid regions.
5- CODA
Coda: Abbreviation for Child Of Deaf Adults. It means a child for deaf adults.
Although this term has been used since the nineties of the last century, it has recently become popular and was introduced to the Oxford dictionary thanks to an American film of the same name that won the Oscar of 2021, a comedy-drama, written and directed by Sian Header, starring Emilia Jones, Marley Matlin, Troy Cottstore, Daniel Durant, Eugenio Derbez.
The film deals with the sensitive subject of some parents losing the ability to hear and speak. It sheds light on their daily problems and sufferings, indirectly, as the film focused on the life of the young daughter who can speak, and this artwork discussed the subject from the point of view of her vision.
Just watched the Oscar-winning film CODA. It is amazing! Such good writing, acting, so heartfelt, made me happy/weepy in many instances. Could have been a very saccharine, treacly Hallmark film of the week in a bad director’s hands but this was just perfect! pic.twitter.com/egJQvDdnB6
— Charlie, the Rainy 🌧️&🌤️ Sunny Koala 🇨🇦⚜️🇺🇦 (@HoosAGoodBoy) April 6, 2022
6 – Crash Diet
Rocket diet: "A crash diet or diet aimed at losing weight very quickly through severe restrictions on calorie consumption over a relatively short period of time."
The term became popular after model and reality TV star Kim Kardashian revealed that she underestimated her calorie intake and went for a daily run on a treadmill, losing 16 pounds (more than 7 kilograms) in 3 weeks to be able to wear the famous "Mr. President" dress of the late American star Marilyn Monroe at the annual fashion event Met Gala.
Other celebrities have previously used crash diets to lose weight, including singer Jessica Simpson who lost 100 pounds in 6 months in 2019.
Doctors say that while these diets can lead to rapid weight loss, they are "not a suitable or safe method for everyone" and nutritionists have warned that trying Kardashian's crash diet could lead to weight gain.
7- Dap
Dab: "A spontaneous gesture of greeting, acknowledgment or affirmation, usually involves spanking the palms together, hitting fists, or clapping fingers.
The label and gesture emerged in black American communities as a symbol of solidarity and resistance. The word "dab" appeared in the late sixties among black American soldiers serving abroad in the Vietnam War, after shootings by white American soldiers at their black colleagues, where black soldiers moved together to protect each other, while the military prohibited the use of a black force salute. Dab was then an acronym for "Dignity and Pride", an acronym for the Whole Convention on Equality and Cohesion.
This gesture is used all over the world today. In 2012, former US President Barack Obama used this gesture when he met NBA star Kevin Durant and he usually uses it when greeting others.
8 – Final Girl
The Last Girl: It is a metaphor in horror films, particularly serial murder films, and refers to "a mythical female character who survives the attacker after the other characters are killed and defeats him or survives to face the killer, who is usually portrayed as intelligent, serious, cautious and chaste and is usually the protagonist of the story, and ultimately survives all the other characters in the film.
The term "last girl" appeared in horror and serial murder films in the early seventies, most notably The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974), Aliens (1986), Halloween and Hill Razer (1987), You Next (2011), The Jungle Hut (2012) and Deadly Evil (2013).
9- Mononym
Monomim: A famous person known by a one-word name (usually a name, a nickname, or a nickname).
The term was coined by The New York Times in 1962, referring to the French model and actress Kaposin who starred in Pink Panther (1963) and other films, worked for Givechi and Christian Dior, and died by suicide in Switzerland in 1990.
Other celebrities known by the singular name include Barbadian pop singer, actress and fashion designer Robin Rihanna Fenty, American singer Madonna, American singer and actress Beyoncé, American singer Zendaya, Brazilian and Argentine football stars Pelé and Maradona, and others.
10 – Parasocial
Parsocial relationship: "describes a relationship characterized by the unrequited sense of intimacy felt by the viewer, admirer, or follower towards a famous or prominent figure (usually famous in the media) where the admirer or follower feels (wrongly) that he or she knows the famous character as a friend."
Research for the term skyrocketed in September 2021, after it was revealed that American comedian John Mullaney was expecting a child with his wife, actress Olivia Moon. His fans felt betrayed, as Mullaney built his fame largely on being a "childless husband" (then married to Anne-Marie) in an attempt to explain the bitter disappointment the fans experienced.
11- Porch Pirate
Balcony Pirate: "A thief steals parcels delivered by courier and leaves them outside the doors of the original recipients' homes or offices unattended. In some countries, police place tracking devices in packages such as traps to catch and deter thieves. The term has been used by the media since 2007, and it is believed that American broadcaster and comedian Adam Carola invented it.
12- Superyacht
Superyacht: "A large or very large yacht, especially one that is characterized by exaggerated luxury and is used for cruises."
The most expensive superyacht History Supreme is rumored to be owned by Malaysian businessman of Chinese origin Robert Keuk. Reportedly costing $4.8 million and covered in precious metals, including a structure made of pure gold, the master bedroom comes in a very luxurious form, as it comes decorated with platinum and has wall art made of meteorite and dinosaur bones. According to Forbes, Kyuuk's net worth was estimated at $12.8 billion in March 2019.
13- Textspeak
Text messaging language: "the distinctive language of text messages and other forms of electronic communication, often consisting of shortcuts, subsequent abbreviations, faces, emojis, etc."
The language of texting engulfs our daily lives so completely that the editors of the Oxford University English Dictionary (OED) chose for the first time ever the smiley face emoji as the first word of 2015.
فالشكل المعروض أدناه حاز على المكان الأول في قائمة أكسفورد السنوية، ولوصفه بالكلام نستطيع القول: إنه "وجه ضاحك مع دموع الفرح".
قاموس أكسفورد اختار إيموجي الوجه المبتسم باعتباره الكلمة الأولى الأشهر عام 2015 (غيتي)
14- aestel:
الأيستيل: "علامة أو مؤشر، يستخدم لمتابعة القراءة أو الحفاظ على مكان القراءة في مخطوطة". وهذا المصطلح ليس حديثا للغاية، فقد ورد لأول مرة في مقدمة الملك الفريد لترجمته في القرن التاسع من كتاب الرعاية الرعوية للبابا غريغوري الأول الذي يعود إلى القرن السادس. وأصل كلمة الأيستيل يعود إلى العصا المصممة لقراءة المخطوطات مثل الكتب المقدسة، وغالبًا ما كان المحارب الشهير وملك إنجلترا الفريد "العظيم" يستخدمها.
15- air fryer:
Air Fryer: A kitchen appliance used to cook food in a healthy manner without using oil by the paid air heat, where hot air circulates quickly and strongly around the food to achieve roasting and frying without the need for large amounts of oil. This appliance is easy to use and clean, and saves a lot of time and effort in the kitchen.
16- Captain Obvious
Captain Obficis: A nickname usually given sarcastically to a person who says things that are very obvious and intuitive and known to everyone without having to refer to them, and have no meaning or added value. It can also be used to describe those who speak excessively and do not stop talking when it is already clear. Sometimes this term is used to describe a person who lacks intelligence or intuition in certain situations.
17- Halfsies:
An informal term that means dividing something equally in half or sharing it equally between two people or groups. The term can also be used in more general meanings to refer to the division or sharing of anything equally, such as time, resources, or responsibilities.
18 jag:
Jag: "A Scottish term refers to 'subcutaneous injection, especially vaccination' and its use became popular during the coronavirus pandemic.
19- keep cup:
Cape Cap: "Reusable Cup" which is a brand of reused coffee cups with the aim of reducing the use of paper and plastic cups. It is used with cups that you can carry with you and use several times.
20- pinkie promise
Pinky promise: "A pledge or promise made by someone putting someone's pinky finger with the other person's pinky and agreeing on something, seen as particularly binding and sincere" and commonly practiced among children.
Pinkie promise #BuddyDaddies pic.twitter.com/9phybmoKcs
— NotJustTentacles 🐙 (@TentaclesNot) March 30, 2023
21- tailgate party
Tilgate Party or Tailgate: "A party usually held in the parking lot of a sports stadium before or after a match, sporting event or large event, where food and drink are served when the rear boot door of the vehicle is opened and used as a temporary table.
The Tilgate party often includes a barbecue, and participants bring their own food and drinks to share with others. Some Tilgate concerts may include music, games, and other entertainment.
Tilgate concerts are popular in the United States, especially football matches, but can also be held at other sporting events, concerts and festivals. It is often seen as a fun way to celebrate and offer support to your favorite team or artist.
22- Demimonde
"Half the world" is taken from the word "demi-monde" in French: "a group of people perceived as suspicious, or living on the margins of society."
The term refers to a play called "Le Demi-Monde" by French writer Alexandre Dumas Jr., published in 1855. The play dealt with the way in which prostitution in that period threatened the institution of marriage.
Speeches of the past years
The Oxford Dictionary in its current form has about 600,1989 words, its second edition, published in 20, fills 2005 volumes, and there was a plan to publish a third edition in <> but editing has not yet reached the middle. Today, however, few rely on the print version, and much of the editing and use has moved to the Internet, partly explaining the publisher's reluctance to push for a new print edition.
The Oxford English Dictionary returns to the spotlight at least once a year, when the body based on the oldest and most important lexical record of the English language and its documentation announces its choice of the word of the year from among the new vocabulary created by the readers of the speakers of that language.
The choices usually reflect a broad cultural and social debate on issues of public interest, as recent years have included "post-truth", "cancellation culture", "fake or false news", while during the Corona pandemic in 2020, it refrained from choosing a single word, due to the abundance of conventions launched by the emerging experience in dealing with the new plague, so a group of them was presented. So it expanded its award to include a range of new keywords, including lockdown, wildfires, COVID-19, as well as Black Lives Matter, WFH (working from home), keyworkers (essential workers), and furlough (financial aid for those whose businesses have been disrupted).
In 2022, more than 650 new words were added, ranging from slang to technology jargon to psychology language. Goblin Mode was the word chosen from the Oxford Dictionary for that year.
According to the English dictionary, this term denotes a way of behaving or behaving without shame and does not comply with accepted social norms, and refers to a dirty person who indulges in his laziness and does not want to leave the house, and this term first appeared in 2009, but it has only recently spread.
In an interview with the British newspaper "The Guardian", American linguist Ben Zimmer pointed out that the "Goblin situation" speaks of this era, which is indeed this year's expression, while people are looking at social norms in new ways, as it allows the abolition of old social norms and the adoption of new ones. The term has gone viral on TikTok, joining a caravan of new words in the Oxford Dictionary.
The group of authors of Oxford English dictionaries chose the word "Vax", which means the name of a vaccine and the verb also inoculated in English, as the word of 2021.
In 2019, the word "climate emergency" was the most recent in use, chosen in its clear meaning, and one of the most prominent phrases used by English speakers according to the Oxford Dictionary. Oxford defines the concept of a "climate emergency" as a situation that requires urgent intervention to reduce or stop the effects of climate change and avoid the environmental damage caused by it.
Oxford Dictionaries chose "toxic" as the word of the year for 2018.
In 1917, the Oxford Dictionary chose "youth quake," meaning "earthquake of youth," as the word for the year, meaning "significant cultural, political, or social change arising from the actions or influence of young people." The word was first used by the editor-in-chief of Vogue magazine in the sixties to describe the influence of youth culture on changing fashion and music. This year, the speech was popular to express the impact that young voters have had on the political scene in Britain, France and New Zealand.
Since 2004, Oxford has chosen the word of the year among the most widely used words that finds interest throughout the 12 months of the year. The Foundation selects a winner, based on word usage data, and based on indicators of the cultural impact of the word.
The Oxford Group says its linguistic record compiles news content and updates it daily, containing more than 14.5 billion ready-made words at the disposal of lexicographers for research and analysis.