How Are Words Added to the Dictionary? A Look at How New Words Are Born

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Lots of us have our own little “language” that we use with friends or loved ones. Most of that vernacular likely consists of inside jokes that would never make sense to anyone else, but once in a while you might coin a term that the English language could actually benefit from.

Not much more than a decade ago, it would have been hard to imagine that words like “tweet” or “selfie” would appear in actual dictionaries. But now it’s hard to imagine life without those words!

So how are new words born? In this post, we’ll take a look at how new terms can make it to the hallowed pages of official dictionaries.

How Are Words Added to the Dictionary?

There are several major dictionaries that govern the English language, with some of the most popular including Merriam-Webster, Collins, and Oxford. Not all words are recognized equally between the major dictionaries, and there are certainly places where they differ, especially when it comes to spelling open and closed compound words.

However, the process and requirements for adding new words is generally the same across dictionaries:

  1. A word must be widely used by a large group of people.
  2. Those people must agree on what the word means.
  3. The word must have staying power. It will likely be in continuous use for a long time.

Do those requirements seem a bit vague and open to interpretation? “Widely” used? “Large” group? A “long” time?

That’s because they are pretty much open to the interpretation of lexicographers, or the editors of the dictionary. Yes, there are actually people whose full-time job is to contemplate what should or shouldn’t be considered an official word.

The Power of Lexicographers

As Merriam-Webster recommends, if you think the English language desperately needs that brilliant word you and your best friend invented, don’t waste your time writing a very persuasive letter to the dictionary’s editors. Instead, your best bet is to keep using that word. A lot. Everywhere. With everyone.

If you drop that word into your writing and everyday conversations, more people will naturally start to pick it up. That, according to Merriam-Webster, is when lexicographers are more likely to notice your word, its widespread use, and the need for it in the English language.

Who knows how far Gretchen Weiners could have gotten with “fetch” had she not been bullied into retiring the word by Regina George.

It’s important to note, though, that just because a widely used word isn’t in the dictionary doesn’t mean it isn’t a “real” word. Chances are, dictionary editors are busy gathering all the information they need to give that word its rightful place in the dictionary.

In fact, that’s basically what they do all day: dictionary editors and lexicographers scour popular databases, publications, and websites in search of new, frequently used words.

There is, however, no official committee or even formal meetings to decide new word inclusion. Once a lexicographer has found enough evidence that a word should be admitted, it must be reviewed by one or several senior colleagues as the dictionary moves through the editorial process.

Examples of New Dictionary Words in 2021

Below are 5 of the 650 new words that were added to Dictionary.com (whose content is based on the latest version of Random House Unabridged Dictionary).

Amirite

Amirite is the informal variant spelling of the phrase “am I right.” It’s used to elicit agreement on a stated observation. For example: This should have been recognized as one word a long time ago, amirite?

Contouring

You can thank the Kardashians and beauty influencers around the globe for this one. “Contouring,” as anyone who ever watched a makeup tutorial circa 2016 knows, is the “makeup application style in which foundation and bronzer are used to create definition along the natural bone structure of the face.”

GOAT

Yes, goat has of course already been in the dictionary for a very long time, but you’re thinking of the four-legged variety that walks almost vertically up hillsides. GOAT is the acronym that was added in 2021, and it stands for “greatest of all time,“ often used to refer to highly revered athletes and entertainers.

Ish

Ish, which you may have used as a suffix to create many of your own adjectives (such as smallish, roundish, or late-ish), is now recognized as an adverb in its own right. It’s most often used as a vague reply to a question. If someone asks you whether you enjoyed your dinner, you might reply, “ish.”

Sharent

If you’re frequently posting photos or updates about your kids on social media, you may be a sharent. And if so, on behalf of all the rest of us, please put the phone down.

How Often Do They Add New Words to the Dictionary?

Dictionaries are usually updated each year, or whenever a new edition is released. There are often hundreds of new words added in any given year.

And in addition to adding brand new words, lexicographers also update the constantly evolving meanings and uses of existing words.

Invent New Words

Not every place is the right place for words pulled from the Dictionary of You. For example, at school or work, or in formal communication, you probably want to stick to words recognized by Merriam-Webster.

However, in less formal settings, you should feel free to have fun with your linguistic expression. At the very least, you’ll flex your creative muscles; on the other hand, you might start a trend that reaches the right lexicographer’s ears and voila, your new word is dictionary-legit.

What’s one word you’d like to see added to the dictionary? Share your ideas in the comments below!

 

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