On August 11, 1973, DJ Kool Herc hosted a back-to-school party in the Bronx. At that time, different like-minded communities came together to party, and in doing so, they created a new cultural movement that would dramatically shape popular culture forever. That movement would be called hip-hop. The name hip-hop wasn’t used yet in 1973, and no one at the time interpreted the gathering, or …
by Heather Bonikowski, Lexicographer, and John Kelly, Managing Editor The latest update to Dictionary.com mirrors, as ever, the world around us. It reflects the evolving landscape—and language—of COVID-19, racial reckoning, social struggles, and the unstoppable charge of technological change. But it also reveals our boundless creativity and ingenuity. Slang and pop culture have yielded a host of terms and expressions in this update—and some welcome …
If you thought dating slang originated with terms like ghosting or breadcrumbing, think again. Popular culture has always included pet names and other unique language to describe all things love and romance. Some of these terms originated in the 1950s, ’60s, and ’70s, while others go back even further than that. But all of them helped lay the groundwork for the interesting and sometimes odd …
Over 15,000 entries updated on topics ranging from race and sexual orientation to climate and internet culture The unprecedented events of 2020, from the pandemic to the protests, have profoundly changed our lives—and language. As we explained in our April additions to the dictionary, COVID-19 rapidly introduced an array of new and newly prominent technical terms to our everyday vocabularies, including asymptomatic, viral load, and …
Beginning in early 2021 and continuing through 2023, there has been a massive upheaval in the labor market. Hundreds of thousands of workers have voluntarily left workplaces they feel are unsafe, do not pay well enough, or to pursue careers more in line with their interests. This phenomenon was termed the Great Resignation by psychologist Anthony Klotz in 2021. Resignation in this context means to …
Have you ever wondered about the influence other languages have had on English? Let’s take a look at the many ways Spanish has impacted the English language. It’s not surprising that English has a lot of Spanish in it: Hispanic people are the largest ethnic minority in the US. And, in 1848, Mexico was compelled to cede approximately 50% of its original territory to the …
