Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary Adds More Than 600 New Words, Including ”Stan”

Merriam-Webster’s dictionary has added over 600 new words to its collection.

Words like ”buzzy” and ”peak” have been included as some of the 640 words Merriam-Webster’s dictionary added to its list this April. Many words were picked up from pop culture like “stan,” a fan or supporter, and EGOT which is an acronym for the Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Awards. The term refers to someone who has earned all four honors. 

While there are completely new words, others that have been added are transformative words that now take on a new meaning. Some are Snowflake, which originally stood for a flake of snow but it now can define a person who is sensitive. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

The well-known dictionary also added words that have come about through societal movements and advancements in language regarding gender. Some include gender non-conforming, which refers to someone who exhibits “behavioral, cultural, or psychological traits that do not correspond with the traits typically associated with one’s sex.” New words in science like” Bioabsorbable” and ”Qubit” were added as well. 

To find new words to add the dictionary, two dozen lexicographers analyze several forms of literature and media like online editions of newspapers, academic journals, and books until they are able to find what Peter Sokolowski, Merriam-Webster’s editor at large, calls “a critical mass” of usage that demands for the terms to be entered into the dictionary.

“So many people use our website as their principal dictionary, and we want it to be current,” Sokolowski told the AP. “We want to be as useful as possible.” The words start off on being added to the online dictionary and eventually make it to the print version.