New Words 2023

See some of the other new additions below, and learn more about the update here.

1. aestel: “an artefact ... now frequently considered to be a pointer, or handle for a pointer, used to follow along or keep one's place when reading a manuscript”
2. agrivoltaics: “the simultaneous use of an area of land for farming and for electricity generation using photovoltaic solar panels”
3. air fryer: “a small convection oven, typically used to fry foods using very little oil”
4. Captain Obvious: “(a sarcastic or disparaging name for) someone who makes an obvious or superfluous statement”
5. CODA: “a person who has one or more parents or guardians who are deaf or hard of hearing”
6. crash diet: “a diet intended to result in a very rapid weight loss through severe restrictions on calorie intake over a relatively short period of time”
7. dap: “a casual gesture of greeting, acknowledgement, or affirmation, typically involving slapping palms, bumping fists, or snapping fingers”
8. final girl: “a stock female character who survives to defeat or evade the attacker after the other characters have been killed, and who is typically portrayed as intelligent, serious, cautious, and chaste”
9. halfsies: “halves; two equal shares or parts”
10. jag: Scottish term for “a hypodermic injection, esp. a vaccination”
11. keep cup: “a reusable cup”
12. mononym: “a one-word name ... by which someone, esp. a celebrity, is known”
13. parasocial: “designating a relationship characterized by the one-sided, unreciprocated sense of intimacy felt ... for a well-known or prominent figure”
14. pinkie promise: “a promise made while linking one's little finger with that of another person, and regarded as especially binding or sincere”
15. porch pirate: “a person who steals parcels that have been delivered and left unattended outside the intended recipient's home, business, etc.”
16. sh**housery: “something regarded as despicable, unacceptable, or bad”
17. superyacht: “an exceptionally large or powerful yacht”
18. tailgate party: “a party typically held in the car park of a stadium before a sports event ... at which food and drink are served at the open tailgate of a motor vehicle”
19. tallywacker: “the penis” or “a stupid, annoying, or otherwise objectionable person (esp. a man)”
20. textspeak: “language regarded as characteristic of text messaging and other forms of electronic communication, often consisting of abbreviations, acronyms, emoticons or emojis, etc.”