Merriam-Webster added 200 new words to the dictionary in 2024, including these must-know terms. How many have you heard before?
Nepo Baby, Beach Read, IDGAF and 17 Other Words Added to the Dictionary for 2024
Updated on Oct. 25, 2024
Beach read
Picture it: You’re under an umbrella with your feet in the sand or lounging on a chair by the hotel pool, and you’re reading a “light work of escapist fiction (such as a thriller or romance).” That engaging but not-too-complex book is called a beach read for good reason. These easy-to-read titles keep readers hooked without much mental strain. So the next time you’re headed on vacay—or just want to feel like you are—pick up or download the latest book by popular “beach read” authors like Elin Hilderbrand and Emily Henry.
Brekkie
This British slang term for breakfast is an informal way to refer to the all-important first meal of the day and one of our favorite new words added to the dictionary in 2024. It’s often associated with a casual, relaxed attitude toward eating in the morning and with common breakfast dishes like pancakes, eggs and cereal. Note the respelling of breakfast to brek, which keeps the e vowel of breakfast (pronounced brek-fest) and not the e and a vowels of break.
Cash grab
When a pop icon releases a deluxe edition of an existing album with a few extra songs on it, some fans love the bonus material. Others think it’s “the greedy pursuit of an opportunity for making money”—aka a cash grab, one of the new dictionary words. Some other examples of cash grabs are cookie-cutter sequels to successful films and unnecessary reboots of beloved TV shows created primarily to capitalize on a loyal existing fan base.
Child-free
It’s finally date night. The last thing you want is to have dinner near someone else’s kids. So you head to an adults-only or child-free restaurant—that is, “one that does not include or allow children” in an attempt to create a quieter, more relaxed environment. There are hotel chains with adults-only resorts or child-free areas, allowing guests to unwind without the presence of children. And some airlines have designated child-free flights, appealing to travelers who’d rather not listen to a screaming baby for a few hours.
Note: Childfree (with no hyphen) is a different word, which means “not having children especially by choice.”
Creepy-crawly
When your neighbor says she saw a creepy-crawly in her kitchen, you get why she’s not happy about it. She saw an insect (such as a spider, beetle or cockroach) that “typically crawls along close to or on the ground and is often considered unwanted or unpleasant.” By the way: The first known use of creepy-crawly was in 1857, but it took until 2024 to make the big time.
Dap
Have you watched a video of two people greeting each other with “a stylized gesture that involves clasping hands and incorporating a variety of additional gestures (such as bumping fists, snapping fingers and slapping palms)”? Well, you’ve witnessed a dap. The slang term originated with African American English in the early 1970s and refers to an informal greeting used to express a sense of familiarity, unity and respect. Think of it as a playful alternative to the conventional handshake.
For You page
If you spend a decent (or indecent) amount of time on social media, you’ve probably noticed that your feed “contains personalized content based on the user’s interests.” The algorithm analyzes your behavior on the app, including likes, shares, comments and watch time, to curate a For You page (or FYP), a unique stream of content that aligns with your preferences. So when my FYP is filled with cooking how-tos, celebrity shorts and cute puppies, I know that the algorithm got me again!
Freestyle
In the world of hip-hop music, freestyle often involves creating rap lyrics on the spot. But the word can apply to any improvised performance that showcases creativity and quick thinking. Say you’re set to give a toast at your colleague’s retirement lunch. Will you prepare your remarks in advance, or will you freestyle your speech and improvise on the spot?
Griddle
One of the most well-recognized of the new words added to the dictionary in 2024, griddle can trace its origin back to the 14th century. While the noun form of griddle has appeared in the dictionary for years, the verb form is a new addition.
In the past, if you were planning to prepare a meal on a flat cooking surface heated from below, you’d say you were going to “cook your eggs on a griddle.” Now, you can just say you’re going to “griddle your eggs.” You can griddle pancakes, burgers, grilled cheese and other foods that are best prepared with a direct, even heat source, allowing for even cooking and browning.
Heat index
During last summer’s stretch of record-breaking hot weather, meteorologists often compared the temperature with AccuWeather’s RealFeel temp or the heat index. According to Merriam-Webster, the latter is “a value that indicates what the ambient temperature feels like to the human body and that is derived from a calculation using air temperature and relative humidity.” Think about it: When the humidity is high, it feels much hotter than the thermometer indicates. High heat index values can lead to heat exhaustion or heat stroke for vulnerable populations, including older adults and those with certain medical conditions.
IDGAF
Want to let someone know that you’re completely unaffected by or uninterested in a particular situation, event or opinion? Well, if you really don’t care what they think—and you’re not worried about offending them—use this colorful acronym that stands for “I don’t give a f–k” to express your strong sense of indifference. It’s often used as an abbreviation in text messages, as in: “I know
Late capitalism
This term describes the current stage of capitalism, which began in the second half of the 20th century and is characterized by globalization, the dominance of multinational corporations, broad commodification and consumerism, and extreme wealth inequality.
According to Merriam-Webster, “When used in a nontechnical context, late capitalism evokes a system that reduces people to consumers and regards all objects and endeavors as a potential source of profit.” The term also spotlights the immorality of corporations using social issues to advance their brands—for example, a company spending millions on a Super Bowl ad to showcase how it donated clean water for disaster relief efforts.
Nepo baby
What do Dakota Johnson, Brooklyn Beckham and Meghan McCain have in common? Each of them can be called a nepo baby, “a child of a famous parent.” Rooted in the word nepotism, this new-to-the-dictionary slang word has become shorthand for someone who has gained career opportunities due to family relationships rather than solely on their own merit.
That’s not to say nepo babies don’t deserve their success: Many have worked hard to carve out their own paths in their respective fields. But there’s no disputing that being connected to the “right people” helps.
Shadow ban
“I’ve had no interactions lately. Can you see my posts?” If someone on social media asks this question, it’s probably because they think they’ve been shadow banned. That is, the platform has hidden a user or their content, usually without informing the user. According to Merriam-Webster, “the shadow in shadow ban suggests both a cloaking of the action of banning (undetectable to the user), as well as the notion of having one’s presence recede into the dark, not to be findable by others.”
Social media apps may implement shadow bans to combat spam, abusive behavior or violations of community guidelines. But the practice isn’t without controversy, as it raises questions about transparency, user rights and freedom of expression.
Single-use
No doubt, lately you’ve seen more and more people drinking from stainless-steel tumblers (often those sold by trendy brands like Stanley and Owala) as opposed to disposable single-use plastic water bottles. The convenience of single-use products—those “intended or designed to be used once and then discarded,” including plastic straws, cutlery, supermarket bags and the like—has led to their widespread popularity, but increasing environmental concerns are prompting a shift toward more sustainable practices that reduce waste.
Snog
This funny word may sound made-up, but fans of Harry Potter and Bridgerton are familiar with the cheeky term for passionate kissing or making out. You can use this British slang both as a noun (“that was the best snog of my life”) or a verb (“the new couple was spotted snogging by the car”). Snog may be a derivative of snuggle, “to draw close especially for comfort or in affection,” which makes sense because it’s impossible to snog from across the room.
Spotted lanternfly
Among the new words added to the dictionary in 2024 is spotted lanternfly, a term that’s almost as familiar as the insect it refers to. Chances are, you’ve spotted a news story about this dreaded insect if you haven’t spotted one in person. You’ll recognize these pests by their grayish-brown forewings with black spots and red hind wings with black spots.
Native to Asia, the spotted lanternfly was first seen in the United States a decade ago at a Pennsylvania landscaping company that imported stones. Since then, the invasive species has spread to other parts of the country, posing threats to various crops, including grapes, apples and hardwoods. Officials encourage folks to kill any spotted lanternflies they see and to help control the insect’s spread by destroying egg masses.
Street corn
If you haven’t tasted the deliciousness that is street corn, what are you waiting for? The combination of grilled corn, a creamy spread (mayonnaise, sour cream or crema) and toppings (such as lime juice, cotija cheese and chili powder) makes for a popular Mexican street food and a staple of Mexican food trucks and restaurants. Served on the cob, street corn is also called elote; when the kernels have been cut off the cob and served in a cup, the dish is known as esquites.
In a testament to the growing popularity of street corn, the food words elote, esquites and crema have also been added to the dictionary this year.
Touch grass
This phrase from the world of social media is a reminder “to participate in normal activities in the real world, especially as opposed to online experiences and interactions.” So if you think your teen (or spouse) is spending too much time gaming or watching videos, and you’d like to encourage them to step away from the screen and engage with the outside world instead, just tell them to “touch grass.”
True crime
The fascination with true crime isn’t new. Truman Capote released In Cold Blood, an account of the murders of a Kansas family, in 1965. But the rise of streaming services, podcasts and social media has made content in this “nonfiction genre that depicts and examines real crime” more accessible than ever. True crime explores the details of the cases, including the police investigations, the criminals’ motives and the impact on the victims. The genre often involves unsolved cases, creating a sense of suspense as audiences enjoy piecing together clues.
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Sources:
- Gregory Barlow, president of Merriam-Webster
- Peter Sokolowski, editor at large of Merriam-Webster and co-host of the Word Matters podcast
- Merriam-Webster: “‘Shadowban’ Emerges from the Dark”
- Merriam-Webster: “200 New Words and Definitions Added to Merriam-Webster.com”
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: “U.S. sweltered through its 4th-hottest summer on record”
- New York Times: “Spotted Lanternflies Are Back. You Should Still Kill Them.”
- Peter Sokolowski, editor at large, Merriam-Webster; LinkedIn exchange October 2, 2024
- The Balance: “What Is Late-Stage Capitalism?”
- USDA: “Spotted Lanternfly”
