“Got a Dad Bod? Doomscrolling? Skibidi? Dictionaries in 2025 are catching up with slang and tech jargon.. Next stop? UN gobbledygook.” : Shared by Tom McDermott

Major dictionary updates in 2025 have added thousands of new words—ranging from online slang and social-media trends to evolving terms in food, culture, and technology. Below are a few highlights, along with a sampling of Caribbean expressions newly recognized this year. And no doubt, if the editors turned their sights on the United Nations, they’d find plenty of ‘gobbledygook’ worth adding too.

Tom

   

New Dictionary Additions (Cambridge & Merriam-Webster)

Word	Dictionary	Meaning
Broligarchy	Cambridge	Blend of “bro” and “oligarchy”; a powerful, influential group of men, especially in tech.
Cancel culture	Merriam-Webster	Public shaming and boycotting of individuals or organizations for perceived offensive actions.
Cold brew	Merriam-Webster	Coffee brewed with cold water.
Dad bod	Merriam-Webster	A somewhat out-of-shape body type.
Delulu	Cambridge	Short for “delusional”; believing things that aren’t true, often by choice.
Doomscrolling	Merriam-Webster	Excessive time online reading sad or anxiety-inducing content.
Dumbphone	Merriam-Webster	A basic cell phone without smartphone features like internet browsing or email.
Farm-to-table	Merriam-Webster	Food sourced directly from a farm.
Ghost kitchen	Merriam-Webster	A kitchen used for delivery-only meals by restaurants.
Hard pass	Merriam-Webster	An emphatic refusal.
Inspo	Cambridge	Short for “inspiration”; ideas or motivation found online.
Lewk	Cambridge	Altered form of “look”; an impressive or unusual fashion outfit.
Rizz	Merriam-Webster	Romantic appeal or charm.
Skibidi	Cambridge	Slang from a viral YouTube series; can mean cool, bad, or be used jokingly.
Tradwife	Cambridge	Women embracing traditional gender roles as a social media trend.
WFH	Merriam-Webster	Abbreviation for “work from home.”

Plus - if you live or travel in the Caribbean, the following Caribbean words have been added to the Oxford English Dictionary this year.

New Caribbean Words Added to the Oxford English Dictionary

Word	Meaning
Bobolee	A stuffed and dressed effigy set up as a target for beating on Good Friday.
Broughtupsy	Polite manners stemming from a proper upbringing.
Bulla	Small, round Jamaican cake made with flour, molasses, sugar, and spices such as ginger, nutmeg, coconut, and pineapple.
Buss up shut	Fried unleavened bread with a flaky texture, similar to paratha or roti; popular in Trinidad and Tobago. Name comes from “bust-up shirt” because of its resemblance to torn fabric.
Carry-go-bring-come	Gossip, or a person who spreads gossip; variations include “bring-back-carry-come.”
Cou-cou	Caribbean dish made with okra, butter, and cornmeal.
Cou-cou-stick	The utensil used to prepare cou-cou.
Cry long water	To cry excessively or insincerely.
Jamaican Creole	A recognized language/dialect of Jamaica.
Pholourie	Indo-Caribbean dish of fried flour balls with ground split peas and spices; cited in a 1936 calypso song.
Saltfish	Salted and dried fish; first recorded in 1558.
Tantie	Title of respect for an older woman, not necessarily an aunt.