6 Modern Words Added to the Dictionary

Baller 

“Baller” gained a new usage on its definition in the year 2022, thanks to Merriam-Webster. As an informal slang term, “baller” describes something “excellent, exciting, or extraordinary,” especially relating to a lavish lifestyle, as in, “It was clear from his frequent trips on his private jet that the actor lived a baller lifestyle.” This usage of “baller” traces back to 2003, but its oldest usage, which denotes an athlete who plays a sport involving a ball, has been around since 1586.

Cringe 

The word “cringe” is nothing new; the verb form, describing an act of recoiling out of distaste or fear, has been around since the 13th century. More recently, however, “cringe” has turned into an adjective and was awarded a new definition in 2022. This usage redefines it as a slang term synonymous with “embarrassing” or “awkward,” as in, “That first kiss scene was so cringe!”

Cromulent 

On February 18, 1996, the word “cromulent” appeared during an airing of The Simpsons in the episode “Lisa the Iconoclast.” In one scene, teachers are talking about the word “embiggen” — another made-up word that was added to the dictionary by Merriam-Webster back in 2018. One teacher says to the other, “[Embiggen is] a perfectly cromulent word,” thus establishing “cromulent” to mean “fine or acceptable.” After decades of being quoted by Simpsons fans, “cromulent” was formally added to the dictionary in September 2023.

Dad Bod 

Forget about chiseled abs and rippling biceps — dad bods are all the rage. The phrase describes a physique that lacks muscular definition and tends to have a bit of a belly. “Dad bod” can be used to describe bodies regardless of the person’s familial status, but it often describes a type of man who was perhaps more physically fit in his youth before his body changed around the time people usually have kids. The expression was reportedly coined in 2003, though it took 18 years for the word to be formally enshrined in the Merriam-Webster dictionary. It has its uses, such as, “My dad bod appreciates wearing shorts to work from home instead of suits to the office,” but always tread carefully in commenting on anyone’s appearance. 

Deepfake 

The term “deepfake” is a neologism that was coined in 2018, and then formally added to the dictionary two years later. The word refers to photos or videos that have been manipulated in an effort to misrepresent the subject. In essence, people use advanced digital editing technology to create content  that tricks the public. For example, a video might show a politician saying something shocking, even though they never said it in real life. One potential use of the word could be, “Did you see that deepfake of Tom Hanks? It was really convincing, but I knew he wouldn’t actually say that.”

Faux-hawk 

“Faux-hawks” are nothing new, as the hairstyle trend dates back to the late 1990s and early 2000s, when the term was first knowingly coined. But it wasn’t until 2021 that the term was officially added to the dictionary with a definition describing a hairstyle featuring a “central ridge of upright hair but with the sides gathered.” Essentially, faux-hawks look like mohawks, only without the added risk of shaving the sides of your head and immediately regretting it. People use the term in sentences such as, “Did you see his faux-hawk? He looks really good!”

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