Merriam-Webster's New Dictionary Adds 5,000 Words, Reflects Evolving Culture
Merriam-Webster has unveiled a comprehensive revision of its iconic Collegiate Dictionary, adding over 5,000 new words and refreshing its content after two decades. This 12th edition arrives amidst a decline in print dictionary sales but robust online interest.
The updated dictionary introduces a wealth of contemporary terms, including 'cold brew', 'farm-to-table', and 'rizz', as well as newer entries like 'petrichor', 'teraflop', and 'dumbphone'. It also acknowledges recent cultural phenomena such as 'adulting', 'cancel culture', and 'beast mode', along with technological advancements like 'dashcam' and 'doomscroll'. Notably, it includes 'WFH' and 'side-eye', reflecting the impact of remote work and evolving social interactions.
To accommodate these new entries, Merriam-Webster has removed some obsolete words and streamlined sections. The new edition also features enhanced entries for top lookups and over 20,000 additional usage examples, providing users with more context and clarity.
Despite print sales accounting for a small fraction of its revenue, Merriam-Webster's dictionaries continue to be popular, with about 1.5 million sold annually. Barnes & Noble has seen an increase in dictionary sales this year, bucking the trend of declining adult reference book sales since 2022.
The 12th edition of 'Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary' is a testament to the evolution of language and culture, reflecting the company's commitment to keeping its content relevant and up-to-date. While print sales may be declining, the dictionary's online presence remains robust, with over a billion annual visits to its website driving revenue growth.
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