New words have been added to the Merriam-Webster dictionary this year, ranging from digital selections like clickbait, meme, and emoji to abbreviations like NSFW and WTF.
In total, 1,700 new entries have been added to the
Merriam-Webster unabridged online dictionary, according to The Washington Post.
“Photobomb,” for example, means “to move into the frame of a photograph as it is being taken as a joke or prank,” according to The Post.
Some others:
WTF (abbrev.)
Definition: what the f***, used especially to express or describe outraged surprise, recklessness, confusion, or bemusement.
NSFW (abbrev.)
Definition: not safe for work; not suitable for work, used to warn someone that a website, email attachment, etc., is not suitable for viewing at most places of employment.
Other words and phrases added to the new entries include “jegging,” “meme,”
“net neutrality,” and “twerk,” according to Time magazine.
The process of adding a word to the dictionary can take some time, The Post note. Merriam-Webster editors track how and where the word is used and have it entered into their system as a citation with examples of its use and the source of its information.
But simply having multiple citations does not guarantee an official induction into the dictionary, according to Merriam-Webster. Words must be considered widely used and lasting.
Twitter users shared their opinions on the new additions:
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