In the ever-evolving world of linguistics, it can sometimes be challenging to keep up with new words, from slang to science. The online dictionary, Merriam-Webster.com, has taken a stab at keeping itself up to date, adding 200 new words and phrases to its database.
“Our lexicographers monitor a huge range of sources to select which words and definitions to add,” said Peter Sokolowski, editor at large for Merriam-Webster. “From academic journals to social media, these give us a very thorough view of the English language.”
The new additions include words from the world of science and nature, like “spotted lanternfly,” which is defined in part as “a hemipteran insect (Lycorma delicatula) of Asia and especially China (…) that has been introduced to the United States, where it is considered an invasive.”
