Above video: The Feed's comedy team tests some new emojis for 2019
'Clapback' and ‘swole’ are a thing now - officially. Language gatekeepers Merriam-Webster have updated their dictionary again for 2019 adding a whole heap of new words to our lexicon.
Over 640 new words were validated in this year’s update. As was the case in previous years, a number of slang terms have found themselves officially recognised.
‘Clapback’ was defined as: “to respond quickly and sharply to criticism.”
Other notable appearances include:
- Swole: “extremely muscular : having a physique enhanced by bodybuilding exercises (often used with get)”
- Bottle episode: “an inexpensively produced episode of a television series that is typically confined to one setting.”
- EGOT: “the acronym that stands for the rare achievement of winning an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar, and a Tony.”
- On-brand: “typical of a particular brand or public image or identity.”
The great Stan debate
In more controversial matters, the dictionary even cleared up some hotly contested debated over the word ‘stan’.
Defined as “an extremely or excessively enthusiastic and devoted fan”, the internet was fairly convinced that is it a combination of stalker and fan.
But Merriam-Webster has attributed the phrase, which can be used as a noun and a adjective, to the 2000 Eminem song ‘Stan’ about a dangerously obsessed fan.
In some cases, existing words had their definitions expanded.
‘Snowflake’, which you last saw in all caps on Twitter, can now mean “someone regarded or treated as unique or special” and “someone who is overly sensitive.”
‘Peak’ has also earned another definition - “being at the height of popularity, use, or attention.”
Words that made the 2018 cut include GOAT (greatest of all time), TL;DR (too long, didn’t read) and bougie (thanks, Migos).
Should we start taking bets for the class of 2020? We’re thinking sis, tea, and big d*ck energy (probably).
