Words Added to the Dictionary in 2017
As the English language evolves, so does the dictionary. Every year new words appear as people find creative ways to describe to the changing world around us. Some of them fade away rapidly, and others cement their place in the English language. In 2017 alone, there were over 1,000 words added to the dictionary.
If you’re learning English, it helps to have a good grasp of the topical new words that have nudged their way into the language and look like they may be sticking around for the foreseeable future. Take a look at a few of our favorites below.
Binge-watch
Thanks to the age of Netflix, binge-watching has become a common practice: watching multiple episodes of a television program (or movies in a series) in rapid succession is almost unavoidable because, let’s face it, you can’t just stop at one.
Face-palm
Both a noun and a verb, this gesture involves someone bringing the palm of their hand to their face as a means of expressing dismay, embarrassment or exasperation. It’s also quite a popular emoji.
Humblebrag
You may have done this before without even realizing it – most of us have. A humblebrag is a subtle way of letting people know how fantastic your life is while undercutting it with something self-deprecating. For example, “Having to travel to so many amazing destinations for work is pretty exhausting.”
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Photobomb
To put it simply, a photobomb is the act of spoiling a photo by unexpectedly appearing in the camera’s field of view. Considering how often people take selfies these days, the likelihood of being photobombed is increasing exponentially.
Pogonophobia
Everyone enjoys a good beard, right? Wrong. In fact, some people dislike them so much that it actually manifests as a phobia. Although this word has been around for centuries, it’s only recently that it became an official term in the English dictionary.
Seussian
Probably one of the most influential children’s book authors of all times, Dr. Suess impacted not only the world of fiction, but also forged a new genre of art influenced by both surrealism and the nonsensical nature of child-like doodles. So it’s no wonder we’ve created a word describe things that are inspired by his works!
Zythum
Due in part to the overwhelming explosion of the craft beer culture across the world, the term zythum has gained new significance in 2017. Zythum is an ancient Egyptian precursor to beer that is noted for being unfermented. And it probably isn’t too far off from the beer we know and love today!
What new English words have you come across this year that have surprised you? Share your thoughts with us on our Facebook page or in the comment section below.
