Wordsmiths will have a few more words and phrases to add to their arsenal if they have not already. Dictionary.com has recently made the decision to add 300 more terms to its online repertoire. The site's latest addition includes formal phrases like "Domestic terrorism" and "cultural appropriation."
"Cultural appropriation" is defined as "the adoption, usually without acknowledgment, of cultural identity markers from subcultures or minority communities into mainstream culture by people with a relatively" This particular phrase has become more common in public discourse regarding music, film, fashion and other aspects of pop culture. Oftentimes, other cultures are borrowing from Black culture and profiting from it without giving credit.
Meanwhile, "Domestic terrorism" is described as "the unlawful use of violence or threats against a country’s civilian population or government by an individual or group-based and operating within the same country and without foreign direction, with the goal of furthering political, social, or ideological objectives." This phrase became more widely used during the Trump administration as white supremacist groups began to orchestrate events like the "Unite The Right" rally and the Capitol Hill riots.
Dictionary.com also added a few slang terms as well like "zaddy," "snack," "yeet" and "oof." "Snack" is defined as "a sexy and physically attractive person" while a "zaddy" is defined as "an attractive man who is also stylish, charming, and self-confident."
Rounding out its newest class of words, Dictionary.com has added words like "Long COVID" which are tied to the last year or so. The new term is defined as “a condition characterized by symptoms or health problems that linger or first appear after supposed recovery from an acute phase of COVID-19 infection."
“The latest update to our dictionary continues to mirror the world around us,” Dictionary.com Managing Editor John Kelly told The Hill.
“Long COVID, minoritize, 5G, content warning, domestic terrorism—it’s a complicated and challenging society we live in, and language changes to help us grapple with it.
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