The evolution of the English language takes a notable turn as the Cambridge Dictionary announces the inclusion of over 6,000 new words and phrases in its latest update.
Among the headline-grabbing additions are viral internet slang terms like “skibidi” and “tradwife,” reflecting the profound influence of online culture on contemporary vocabulary.
“Skibidi,” a nonsense term popularised by an animated YouTube series, has entered the dictionary with definitions acknowledging its versatile, often humorous use to mean “cool,” “bad,” or simply as a joke devoid of specific meaning. This reflects a broader trend of digital platforms acting as incubators for new linguistic expressions.
Colin McIntosh, Lexical Programme Manager at the Cambridge Dictionary, recognised as the world’s largest online dictionary, commented on this dynamic shift:
“Internet culture is changing the English language and the effect is fascinating to observe and capture in the dictionary,” McIntosh said.
The institution actively tracks the emergence and adoption of new vocabulary through its Cambridge English Corpus, an extensive repository containing over two billion words of written and spoken English. This data helps lexicographers monitor usage frequency, context, and speaker diversity.
The new entries extend far beyond meme culture, capturing significant social and workplace changes. The term “tradwife,” a contraction of “traditional wife,” describes a married mother who focuses on domestic duties like cooking and cleaning, often while sharing her lifestyle on social media.
The rise of remote work has spawned the practical, if slightly mischievous, “mouse jiggler,” defined as a device or software used to simulate computer activity when the user is absent. Growing environmental awareness is marked by the inclusion of “forever chemical,” denoting harmful substances that persist indefinitely in the natural world.
“We only add words where we think they’ll have staying power,” McIntosh emphasised, commenting on the selection process.
The additions demonstrate the dictionary’s commitment to documenting how language evolves in real-time, driven by global conversations, technological shifts, and the pervasive reach of social media, ensuring it remains a relevant and authoritative resource for learners and native speakers alike.
