Merriam-Webster has added 1,400 new words and definitions to its online dictionary, including terms such as “vibe coding,” “yacht rock,” “parasocial” and “Mandela Effect.”
The dictionary publisher said the additions reflect words and meanings that have demonstrated widespread use over time and offer a look at changes in language, technology, social media, food and popular culture.
Several additions come from social media and internet culture, including “looksmaxxing,” “Rickroll,” “meme coin,” “promposal” and “parasocial.” Merriam-Webster also added a new digital meaning for “letterboxing.”
Technology-related additions include “vibe coding,” “AGI,” short for artificial general intelligence, and “compute” used as a noun. “Uncanny valley,” referring to an uneasy feeling associated with artificial representations that appear nearly but not quite human, was also added.
Food-related additions include “superfood,” “cake pop,” “shishito,” “bao” and “chili crisp.”
Other new entries reflect relationships, lifestyles and emotions, including “cuffing season,” “Sunday scaries,” “crashout” and “California sober.”
Music is represented by “yacht rock,” while other additions include “shapewear,” “neckbeard,” “copium,” “trash panda” and “whack-a-mole.”
Merriam-Webster also added “Mandela Effect,” a term used to describe a false memory shared by many people.
The dictionary does not add words simply because they are new or trending. Merriam-Webster said its editors look for evidence that a word has become widely used and has established meaning before adding it to the dictionary.
