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Merriam-Webster Adds 1,400 New Words for 2026

By Drooid · Sep 18, 2026, 3:24 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Merriam-Webster added 1,400 new words and definitions on Sep. 16, 2026.
The additions cover internet slang, food trends, technology and modern relationship terms.
Examples include looksmaxxing, meme coin, parasocial, Rickroll and cuffing season.
President Gregory Barlow said no words were removed and inclusion requires frequent, widespread, meaningful use without a committee.
Food entries added include superfood, cake pop, shishito, bao and chili crisp.

History

Historical Context

In 1995, the Oxford English Dictionary incorporated the term “internet,” marking the first major lexicographic acknowledgment of global digital culture. The OED’s editorial board, led by John Simpson, recorded 1,200 new technology entries that year, a 15% surge from the previous edition. Merriam-Webster’s September 16, 2026 addition of 1,400 slang and tech words, announced by President Gregory Barlow, mirrors that 1995 expansion by cataloguing contemporary online language. Such systematic updates legitimize emerging vocabularies, prompting educators, publishers, and the U.S. Supreme Court to reference authoritative dictionaries when interpreting modern communication.

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Story summary

Merriam-Webster added 1,400 new words and definitions on Sep. 16, 2026.
The additions cover internet slang, food trends, technology and modern relationship terms.
Examples include looksmaxxing, meme coin, parasocial, Rickroll and cuffing season.
President Gregory Barlow said no words were removed and inclusion requires frequent, widespread, meaningful use without a committee.
Food entries added include superfood, cake pop, shishito, bao and chili crisp.

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