NBCWe like to pretend that the Merriam-Webster Dictionary is trying to be like Amy Poehler's character in Mean Girls with some of these new phrases they added. They aren't a regular dictionary. They're a cool dictionary.
"Emoji," "Photobomb," "NSFW" and more Internet slang have officially been added to the dictionary, which means they are hence forth actual words and when someone says they don't understand what the word "meme" means, you can scoff at them and tell them "damn, look it up, Dad." And they have to! Because it's in the dictionary!
"It's happened again: this dictionary has gotten bigger. As of last week, it's grown by more than 1,700 entries, and existing entries have expanded by more than 700 new senses," reads the update on the Merriam-Webster website. "We've added 3,200 examples that provide contextual information, and another 200 entries for some of the words people most frequently look up have been updated and enhanced. Some of the new entries are for terms you've heard of and some likely aren't. We thought we'd offer you a sampling of both."
Here are some notable additions to the dictionary, the first known use of the word according to Merriam-Webster and examples of the words used in sentences just in case you need it for that upcoming spelling bee you entered:
1. Net Neutrality (first known use: 2003)
Example: "I still don't understand Net Neutrality."
2. Emoji (first known use: 1997)
Example: "I don't think the Internet has ever been angrier than when they found out there wasn't a taco emoji with the new update."
3. Meme (first known use: ???)
Example: "Beyoncé is now a meme, which means it's the best meme of all time."
4. Clickbait (first known use: 2010)
Example: "This headline is such click bait but I don't even care: 'This Puppy Jumped Off a Cliff to Rescue a Three-Legged Kitten Carrying a Newborn Baby. You Won't Believe What Happens Next!'"
5. Jeggings (first known use: 2009)
Example: "Those jeggings are so tight I can see that girl's camel toe."*
*Note to self: check to see if "camel toe" was added to the dictionary
6. Photobomb (first known use: ???)
Example: "The guy who photobombed Beyoncé on the red carpet with a piece of pizza is the real MVP."
7. NSFW (first known use: ???)
Example: "Hey, don't open on that email I sent you about Michael Fassbender in Shame. It's NSFW."
8. WTF, (first known use: ???)
Example: "WTF? Justin Bieber just destroyed my cherished '90s memories by singing a Boyz II Men song."
So, are these additions indicative of Merriam-Webster keeping up with the times or does it mean the end of the English language as we know it? Discuss.