Dictionary Adds ‘Mansplain’ and ‘Dumpster Fire’

Dictionary Adds Mansplain and Dumpster Fire

By Anna Scifres

Employees at Merriam-Webster and Oxford English dictionary have been diligently working to add new words to the dictionary this year. Many are more technology-based while others are slang that is popular.

“Mansplain” and “binge-watch” have both made it onto the list. Here are just a few words that are now in the Merriam-Webster dictionary and the Oxford English Dictionary.

Binge-Watch (v.): to watch many or all episodes of (a TV series) in rapid succession.

Mansplain (v.): (of a man) explain (something) to someone, typically a woman, in a manner regarded as condescending or patronizing.

Face-palm (v.): to cover one’s face with the hand as an expression of embarrassment.

Hangry (adj.): being irritable due to hunger.

Tomgirl (n.): a boy who behaves in a typically girlish manner.

Ghost (v.): to abruptly cut off all contact with (someone, such as a former romantic partner) by no longer accepting or responding to phone calls, instant messages, etc.

Photobomb (v.): to move into the frame of a photograph as it is being taken as a joke or prank.

Side-eye (n.): a sidelong glance or gaze especially when expressing scorn, suspicion, disapproval, or veiled curiosity.

Yowza (interj.): used to express surprise or amazement.

Prosopagnosia (n.): an inability to recognize faces.

Dumpster fire (n.): a chaotic or disastrously mishandled situation