Cooling center, brat, jol, hot rodent man,
dopamine dressing, dudebro, dodgy box, whale eye, and windshield
survey are among the new and revised terms
SAN MATEO, Calif., Sept. 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/
-- Dictionary.com, the world's leading digital dictionary, is
excited to announce its Summer Word
Drop, featuring a fresh batch of new and revised terms that
reflect the dynamic nature of the English language.
This latest update brings a wide range of entries from various
fields, including the environment (ambient temperature, cooling
center, gross zero), pop culture and slang (hot rodent man,
dopamine dressing, jol, dudebro, babygirl, whale eye), health and
wellness (chemo brain, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, cultivated
meat), technology (common gateway interface, computer-generated
images), chiefly British vernacular (dodgy box, belt and braces,
climbdown), and more.
While this update includes words that are new to the dictionary
altogether, several entries have newly revised definitions,
including hot money and rewild. In a companion blog post,
Dictionary.com also introduced a new sense to brat, reflecting its
rise in online communities and pop culture as a term embraced by
those who defy norms and express themselves boldly.
"Language is a lot like people—always growing, changing and even
picking up some delightful quirks along the way," said
Steve Johnson, Curriculum Design
Manager of the Dictionary Media Group at IXL Learning. "By
adding new and revised terms, we're ensuring our dictionary keeps
pace with these changes to capture the spirit of our times and set
the stage for tomorrow's conversations."
Dictionary.com's expert lexicographers continuously research,
document and define the words at the tip of every trend and tongue.
Their work ensures that Dictionary.com is the most
comprehensive resource for our evolving language. Some of this
summer's key themes and words burst onto the scene or have been
steadily gaining traction over the past several months,
including:
Warm Weather Words
This summer has brought rising
temperatures and introduced new vocabulary that reflects our
discussions about the environment and weather patterns. For
instance, the terms "gross zero", "net zero" and "zero carbon" all
denote various strategies and levels of ambition in addressing
carbon emissions. Other words related to warm weather include:
- cooling center (noun): an air-conditioned or otherwise
cooled facility, such as a school, library or mall, that is open to
the public during a period of hot weather in order to provide
relief from the heat
- ambient temperature (noun): the temperature of the air
at a given time and in a particular place or circumstance
Hot Boy Summer
While 2022's word of the year was
"woman", this year's language landscape showcases an intriguing
trend: a playful reimagining of how we describe men. In internet
culture, traditionally feminine terms like "babygirl" are being
playfully applied to men, while phrases like "dudebro" and the
humorous "hot rodent man" blend masculinity with a knowing
wink.
- hot rodent man (slang, noun): a quirky, unconventionally
handsome man (often a celebrity), likened to a physically
attractive cartoon rat or mouse, and praised for traits such as
intelligence and sensitivity
- dudebro (slang, noun): a young male who is perceived as
obnoxiously entitled and narrow-minded
- babygirl (slang, noun): an attractive male, often a
celebrity, who is admired for being cute, sensitive, vulnerable or
stylish
New Medical Terminology
The brain is a complex organ,
and the recent addition of medical terms highlights how we discuss
hot topics such as mental health and brain injuries. These
additions emphasize the importance of language in discussing
complex medical conditions, as advancements in research and
technology continue to expand our understanding of the human
brain.
- chemo brain (noun): a common side effect of some cancer
treatments that is characterized by cognitive impairments, such as
memory and recall difficulties, confusion, difficulty concentrating
or loss of mental alertness
- traumatic brain injury (noun): damage to the brain from
a source outside the body, such as an object that strikes the head
violently or penetrates the skull, which causes symptoms ranging
from headache and dizziness to permanent physical or mental
disability
- premenstrual dysphoric disorder (noun): a form of
premenstrual syndrome in which symptoms are so severe as to be
disabling and require treatment
Explore these and other new additions on Dictionary.com and stay
tuned for the next word drop this winter!
About Dictionary.com
Words define every aspect of our
lives, from our ideas to our identities. Dictionary.com aspires to
empower people to express themselves, make connections, and find
opportunities through the power and joy of language. With 96
million visitors each month, Dictionary.com is the premier
destination to learn, discover, and have fun with the limitless
world of words and meanings. The brand helps you make sense of the
ever-evolving English language so you can put your ideas into
words—and your words into action.
Press Contact
Eric
Bates
IXL Learning
press@ixl.com
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SOURCE IXL Learning