Every month, up to 500 words and phrases are added to the dictionary. Lexicographers are tasked with deciding which terms deserve inclusion before subsequently writing up definitions.
This year has already seen the addition of many new words, including GOAT (greatest of all time), awesomesauce (something extremely good), and sharent (a parent who frequently shares photos of their child). The latest batch of inductees include a variety of somewhat unfamiliar terms.
The team at Crossword Quiz Solutions have delved into the latest update to pick out a selection of the weird and wonderful additions to the Cambridge Dictionary. How many of these words do you know?
Fexting
Definition: The act of fighting with someone by exchanging text messages rather than speaking on the phone or in person. A combination of fight and texting.
Usage: You look so angry, who are you fexting?
Barkitecture
Definition: The art and practice of designing a house or the inside of a house around the needs of one’s pets.
Usage: This house is perfect for our dogs, the barkitecture is great.
Frugaller
Definition: Someone who tries very hard to avoid wasting food or other resources and spends as little money as possible.
Usage: She plans all her meals, so she never wastes food, she’s an extreme frugaller.
Greedflation
Definition: The situation when companies use inflation as an excuse to increase their prices more than necessary in order to make as much money as they can.
Usage: This isn’t inflation, it’s greedflation, they just want our money.
Unretire
Definition: The act of going back to work after you have retired.
Usage: She’s having to unretire and go back to work to earn some more money.
Baby Bust
Definition: A large decrease in the number of babies born among a particular group of people during a particular time.
Usage: There is a huge baby bust at the moment, resulting in fewer births.
Algospeak
Definition: Words used on social media posts as a way of avoiding using other words that algorithms will identify as unsuitable or inappropriate. For example, saying “unalive” instead of “dead”.
Usage: Many young people are using algospeak so their comments don’t get removed on social media.
Eduvacation
Definition: A holiday that includes some educational activities, such as classes, cultural tours, etc. A combination of education and vacation.
Usage: Let's head to Spain on an Eduvacation and learn about Spanish food and architecture.
Hometel
Definition: A hotel that is designed to make guests feel as though they are living in a comfortable home.
Usage: I feel so relaxed here, this is definitely more of a hometel.
Ghost Colleague
Definition: An employee of a company who works alone, often at home, and is not in frequent contact with other people who work for the same company.
Usage: We’ve never actually met him in person, he’s more of a ghost colleague.
