Merriam-Webster adds abbreviations, slangs and COVID related terms to its dictionary

Merriam-Webster has ded 455 new words to its venerable dictionary, including a slew of abbreviations and slang terminology popular on social media. "Super-spreer, Vaccine passport, TBH, D bod and FTW" are all now in dictionary. 

According to dictionary publisher, rapid and informal nature of messaging, texting, and tweeting has contributed to a vocabulary freshly rich in efficient and shortened communication, which has only expanded throughout pandemic.

dictionary never stops expanding, just as language never ceases evolving. In a living language, new terms and new uses for existing terms are a constant, according to Merriam-Webster's website. Among included words, re are 'TBH,' which stands for 'To Be Honest,' and 'FTW,' which stands for 'For Win.' FTW is used particularly to show acceptance or support. FTW is frequently used in social media to recognise a witty or amusing response to a question or meme, according to almost 200-year-old Springfield, Massachusetts-based corporation's website. 

Pandemic is looming large in list of new entrants

It also claims that 'Amirite' is a shorthand for 'Am I Right,' as in "English spelling is consistently inconsistent, amirite?" coronavirus pandemic is also looming large in list of new entrants, with terms like 'super-spreer,' 'long COVID,' and 'vaccine passport' getting ded to list.

More slang entered vernacular as a result of partisan politics, such as 'whataboutism,' defined by Merriam-Webster as act or practise of reacting to an accusation of wrongdoing by contending that an offence committed by anor is similar or worse.  dictionary states that 'whataboutery' is more typically employed by Britons.

Or new phrases come from culinary sector, such 'fluffernutter,' a comforting sandwich me with peanut butter, marshmallow crème, and white bre.

Horchata, a chilled sweetened beverage me from pounded rice or almonds and typically scented with cinnamon or vanilla, and chicharron, a tritional fried pork belly or pigskin snack, also me cut.

feared 'vote-a-ramas' that have become a fixture in United States Congress are defined as an exceptionally large number of discussions and votes that occur on a single piece of legislation to which an infinite number of amendments can be offered, debated, and voted on. Moreover, 'D Bod' is a physique seen as characteristic of an average parent; especially, one that is a little overweight and not excessively muscular, according to dictionary.

Image: AP