Language is dynamic; growing and changing according to the development of culture and society. English, being one of the most spoken languages in the world, is a great example of this, with users constantly creating new words to add to their lexicon.
And just as the language never stops growing, the dictionary never stops expanding. Trusted dictionary publishers regularly update their lists each year to keep up with this constant expansion.
New Words in the 2021 English Lexicon
When enough people use and understand a brand new word or phrase, it becomes a part of our culture. You see them in print, hear them from conversations, and spread awareness of them by using them yourself. It is then a dictionary’s job to document these new words and phrases, pinpoint their origins, and report on how they are used.
For this list, I’ve limited it to new words that have been accepted into two of the most popular dictionaries in the English language, Merriam-Webster and the Oxford English Dictionary.
It’s also important to note that some of these words have been around for a long time. It’s only just this year that they’ve been officially added to the lexicon.
Below are 30 new words that I think have made the biggest impact this 2021, along with their official meanings from their respective dictionaries.
1. FTW
An abbreviation of “for the win” and is used to express support or approval. It’s mostly used on social media to acknowledge the cleverness of a response to any question or meme.
Example: Lucked out on the hotel room they gave me for free. Hot tub FTW!
2. Digital nomad
Someone who constantly travels and solely does work over the internet. It’s especially used to describe people with no permanent address whose work is 100% remote.
Example: With the digital revolution, most people are now eschewing the traditional office setup and becoming digital nomads instead.
3. Super-spreader
It originally means a highly contagious individual capable of transmitting a disease to an unusually large amount of uninfected people. It now also pertains to a location or event where a high number of people contract the same communicable disease.
Example: To avoid further infection, governments worldwide have temporarily shut down super-spreader locations such as nightclubs and bars.
4. Copypasta
Copypastas are blocks of data that are copied and pasted across the internet, usually on social media sites and forums. They’re the equivalent of text spam as they’re mostly used to annoy or disrupt online discussions.
Example: One of the most popular copypastas is a comically aggressive “tough guy” tirade listing a Navy Seal’s absurd accomplishments.
5. Air fryer
A small, airtight electronic appliance that is used to quickly cook food by circulating hot air around them.
Example: Air fryers are all the rage today because they’re smaller and easier to maintain than the usual oven.
6. Dad Bod
A body type that’s typically regarded as that of a father; specifically one that’s slightly overweight with a beer belly, but isn’t obese.
Example: He would rather eat his favorite food and have a dad bod rather than restrict his diet to maintain a six-pack.
7. Flex
An act of bragging or showing off.
Example: There’s nothing wrong about occasionally flexing your achievements on social media.
8. Cancel culture
The practice or tendency to engage in mass shaming and withdrawal of support of public figures to express disapproval and exert social pressure. Often occurs in social media.
Example: Cancel culture’s primary criticism is that it jumps to shaming people without first verifying facts from fabrication.
9. BIPOC
BIPOC is the abbreviation for Black, Indigenous, (and) People of Color. It’s a term that acknowledges the diversity of people and the experiences they face.
Example: BIPOC members have long campaigned for equal justice, opportunities, and wages in the workplace.
10. ASMR
Short for Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response, ASMR is the pleasant tingle that originates from the back of the scalp and often spreads to the neck and upper spine. It’s often triggered by a particular sound or movement and tends to create a calming effect.
Example: Some of the most popular trends on Youtube are ASMR videos.
11. Otaku
Originating from the Japanese language, an otaku is someone who has an intense or obsessive interest in something, particularly when it comes to anime and manga.
Example: Otakus are often misunderstood because people don’t understand their enthusiasm for a particular hobby.
12. Astroturf
Astroturfing is the practice of using fake grassroots efforts by entities to gather support or influence public opinion. While it appears that traditional communities are the ones mobilizing, it’s actually corporations or governments behind it.
Example: Vloggers who don’t disclose that the products they’re reviewing are gifts from their sponsors is a form of astroturfing.
13. Hard pass
A hard pass is a firm refusal or rejection of something.
Example: I’m okay with most amusement park rides, but the roller coaster is a hard pass for me.
14. Gig worker
A gig worker is someone who works temporary jobs as independent contractors or freelancers rather than long-term employment.
Example: Some of the advantages gig workers have over full-time employees are being able to set their own hours, working anywhere, and picking the jobs they want to do.
15. Sapiosexual
A sapiosexual is characterized by their sexual or romantic attraction to highly intelligent people.
Example: If you’re someone who’s more interested in a person’s grades than their looks and body, then you might be a sapiosexual.
16. Body shaming
Body shaming is the practice of mocking, shaming or stigmatizing another person based on their body shape, size, or appearance.
Example: Body shaming is a term that became popular in recent years as people became more aware of respecting other people’s appearances.
17. Doxing
Doxing is the act of searching and revealing sensitive or identifying information about a person, usually with malicious intent.
Example: Internet personalities who wish to remain private are usually the victims of doxing.
18. Livestream
A livestream is a real-time broadcast of an event over the internet. It also pertains to the act of doing a livestream.
Example: Most social media platforms enable anyone, whether they’re content creators or simple users, to do a livestream.
19. Media literacy
Media literacy is a person’s ability to evaluate, analyze, and understand mass media. This is includes decoding messages from any media platform, assessing the influence of these messages, and creating thoughtful and conscientious media in turn.
Example: If people don’t exercise media literacy, they’re more likely to fall victim to fake news.
20. Virtue Signaling
Virtue signaling is the act of expressing views or acting in a way that is primarily to demonstrate a person’s good character, moral correctness, and societal conscience.
Example: Some people resort to virtue signaling in an attempt to make people like them more.
21. Body positivity
Body positivity is a social movement focusing on the acceptance of all bodies, regardless of skin color, size, shape, gender, and physical abilities.
Example: The body positivity movement challenges society’s unfair beauty standards. Instead, it emphasizes the health and functionality of the human body.
22. Amazeballs
Amazeballs is an enthusiastic expression of approval or extreme amazement.
Example: The restaurant’s food was nothing special, but the atmosphere was amazeballs.
23. Social distance
To keep a certain distance from, or limit physical contact with another person. Usually done to minimize exposure from a contagious disease.
Example: With the ongoing pandemic, people are encouraged to socially distance themselves from one another.
24. Anti-vaxxer
An anti-vaxxer is someone who opposes the use of and the regulations pertaining to vaccination.
Example: Medical experts say that avoidable diseases, such as measles, are making a comeback because anti-vaxxers are refusing to vaccinate their children.
25. Hallyu
Hallyu is the collective term for the phenomenal growth of South Korean culture across the world, encompassing popular culture, music, movies, cuisine, and games.
Example: Hallyu, or the Korean Wave, is one of the major reasons for South Korea’s economic success.
26. Mukbang
Mukbang or “eating broadcast”, is an audiovisual show where a host is shown eating a large quantity of food while talking to their audience.
Example: Mukbang, while originating from South Korea, has since become a global phenomenon.
27. Meet-cute
An amusing or charming first encounter between two people leads to a developing romantic relationship. Usually used to refer to films and novels with such a premise.
Example: Meet-cute situations are a staple in romantic comedies.
28. Beast mode
Usually used in online games, beast mode refers to a state where someone performs an activity with extreme focus, skill, and determination.
Example: With the championship on the line, the last remaining member of Team One went beast mode on his opponents.
29. Deadname
A deadname is the former name of someone who has chosen a new name, especially for those of the transgender community who have already transitioned.
Example: Deadnaming is considered rude and harmful by transgenders as it rejects a person’s gender identity.
30. Adulting
Adulting is the action of becoming or acting like an adult.
Example: A lot of young professionals are now experiencing the highs and lows of adulting, from having their own money to tackling heavier responsibilities like taxes and insurance.
How Words Get Added to the Dictionary
If you’re someone with a passion for words, you might just be suited as a lexicographer. They’re the ones who research, compile and decide on which words are to be added to dictionaries.
Of course, they don’t just pick whatever buzzwords are floating around and stick it to a dictionary. It takes a lot of observation and research before a word is deemed dictionary-worthy. For example, the abbreviation “OMG” first made a major breakthrough in the 1990s but was only officially added to the dictionary in 2009.
The basics of it though are that if a lot of people agree that a word means the same thing, then it has a high chance of being studied by lexicographers. They read far and wide, looking for new words and seeing how they’re used and how much they’re being used.
What new words do you like using in a conversation? Share it in the comments below!
If you enjoyed this post, then you might also like:
- Palindrome Words: They’re the Same Backwards and Forwards!
- Contronyms: Words with Contrasting Meanings
- 20 Untranslatable Words You Didn’t Know You Needed
- 100 Most Commonly Misspelled Words in the English Language
Cole is a blog writer and aspiring novelist. He has a degree in Communications and is an advocate of media and information literacy and responsible media practices. Aside from his interest in technology, crafts, and food, he’s also your typical science fiction and fantasy junkie, spending most of his free time reading through an ever-growing to-be-read list. It’s either that or procrastinating over actually writing his book. Wish him luck!
