A recent article from Dictionary.com raised a lot of discussion within our agency about the new words that have been added to Dictionary.com in 2021. Granted, 2020 brought challenges on all fronts and also created a myriad of words as a result of Covid, social struggles, racial injustice, and the ever-changing technology space. Our group had mixed feelings on whether some of these words should really be added to the dictionary or instead should be considered trendy slang words that will be out of fashion by next year.
While I can’t think of a better word to sum up 2020 than “sh*tshow,” I don’t think that term belongs in the dictionary. Call me old-fashioned, but that feels like slang, plain and simple. Also, we are welcoming the new pronoun, “Y’all.” Really? Do people really need a substitute for “you all”?
Other words that have been added feel much more substantial and necessary, such as “ghost kitchen” and “side hustle.” They describe concepts that didn’t previously exist but will most likely have some longevity in our lexicon.
As a marketer, here’s what I do know. It was brilliant for Dictionary.com to publish this article. It truly brings relevance to their product…and just as importantly, great publicity! They know how to market, and I especially liked the line, “A changing world means a changing language, and a changing language means a changing dictionary.” It’s like the dictionary can release a sequel every year! Happy viewing!