Merriam-Webster.com is displayed on a computer screen on Friday, Dec. 6, 2019, in New York. Merriam-Webster has added 455 new words to its venerable dictionary, including a number of abbreviations and slang terms that have become ubiquitous on social media.(AP Photo/Jenny Kane, File)
Dad bod, amirite, TBH and FTW are now dictionary-appropriate.
Merriam-Webster has added 455 new words to its venerable dictionary, including a number of abbreviations and slang terms that have become ubiquitous on social media.
“Just as the language never stops evolving, the dictionary never stops expanding,” the nearly 200-year-old Springfield, Massachusetts-based company said on its website. "New terms and new uses for existing terms are the constant in a living language."
The dictionary company said the quick and informal nature of messaging, texting, and tweeting, which has only increased during the pandemic, has “contributed to a vocabulary newly rich in efficient and abbreviated expression.”
Among them: “TBH”, an abbreviation for “to be honest” and “FTW,” an abbreviation for “for the win.”
Merriam-Webster explains that FTW is used "especially to express approval or support. In social media, FTW is often used to acknowledge a clever or funny response to a question or meme.”
And it says “amirite” is a quick way to write “am I right,” as in, "English spelling is consistently inconsistent, amirite?”
The coronavirus pandemic also looms large in the collection of new entrants as “super-spreader,” “long COVID” and “vaccine passport” made the list.
Partisan politics contributed more slang to the lexicon, such as “whataboutism," which Merriam-Webster defines as “the act or practice of responding to an accusation of wrongdoing by claiming that an offense committed by another is similar or worse.” For Britons, the dictionary notes that “whataboutery” is more commonly used.
The dreaded “vote-a-ramas” that have become a fixture in the U.S. Congress is explained this way: “an unusually large number of debates and votes that happen in one day on a single piece of legislation to which an unlimited number of amendments can be introduced, debated, and voted on.”
And still, other new terms come from the culinary world, such as “fluffernutter,” the homey sandwich of peanut butter, marshmallow crème, and white bread.
Horchata, the cold, sweetened beverage made from ground rice or almonds and usually flavored with cinnamon or vanilla, also made the cut, as did chicharron, the popular fried pork belly or pigskin snack.
As for “dad bod”? The dictionary defines that as a “physique regarded as typical of an average father; especially: one that is slightly overweight and not extremely muscular.”
Tech-enabled residential hospitality company Mint House recently raised $35 million in a Series B round led by Mohari Hospitality. Mint House was described by one of its backers as 'the best of a hotel without the worst of a hotel, and the best of an Airbnb without the worst of an Airbnb.' Mint House offers apartment-style lodging across the country. The company claims its spaces combine the comfort of a home with the luxury of a hotel in order to give guests all of the perks and none of the tradeoffs. Will Lucas, Founder and CEO of Mint House, joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
Fintech company Acrisure recently raised $725 million in a new funding led by a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, bringing the company's valuation to $23 billion. Acrisure offers financial solutions including insurance, reinsurance, real estate services, cyber services, and asset management. The company says its financial solutions are powered by the best of human and artificial intelligence. Greg Williams, co-founder, CEO and President of Acrisure, joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
Jada Pinkett Smith took to her Facebook Watch series, "Red Table Talk" to address the infamous slap by her husband Will Smith on Chris Rock at the past Oscars ceremony. This particular episode centered around her own diagnosis of Alopecia, which became highlighted in the wake of Rock's joke directed at her.
High school seniors are finalizing their college plans for the fall and figuring out their next moves, but experts say the college ranking system can be confusing, and can lead many to make the wrong choice about their futures. John Nader, president of Farmingdale State College, joins Cheddar News to discuss.
We are in the midst of a mental health crisis that needs more attention. New data shows the large toll that the pandemic took on students' mental health with 7 in 10 public schools reporting a rise in the number of students seeking mental health services. Only about half of those schools are able to meet those demands. Dr. Pete Loper, pediatrician and child and adolescent psychiatrist, joins Cheddar News to discuss.
Join Cheddar News as we break down the top headlines this morning including updates on the Tulsa medical center shooting, Johnny Depp V. Amber Heard verdict, and Democrats push for gun control reform.
Caring for one’s emotional well-being is just as important as physical health, but many groups face increased stigmas surrounding mental wellness. Cheddar News looks into the taboos that prevent the AAPI community from seeking help and how one tech company is trying to solve the problem. Plus, explore emerging trends in wellness and learn unique ways to help you get centered.
Queen Elizabeth is celebrating 70 years on the British throne this weekend. The Platinum Jubilee kicks off Thursday. She is the longest-reigning monarch in British history. Cheddar's Shannon LaNiere takes a look back at her remarkable reign.
