This year, the Cambridge Dictionary is publishing not one, but 6,000 new words into its deep online catalogue. Look forward to a new adventure and a better vocabulary! Topping this list is “Skibidi” — an across-the-board slang term that’s taken TikTok and other social media platforms by storm. This language comes from the 2022 digital update, which shows how quickly language can change especially with the influence of today’s internet culture.
Colin McIntosh, the lexical program manager at Cambridge Dictionary, emphasized the importance of selecting words that exhibit potential longevity in the language. He pointed out that only persistent words get the green light, those that prove they are here to stay. Add to that the growing practical vocabulary born from today’s workforce realities, and this year’s update stretches far beyond just buzzwords.
“Internet culture is changing the English language and the effect is fascinating to observe and capture in the dictionary,” McIntosh remarked. The dictionary gives due recognition to the transformative, world-changing power of social media. It’s even played an important role in popularizing new slang terms such as “Skibidi,” which means “cool” or “bad.” Furthermore, this term can be used wittily at random, without any particular definition, displaying the word’s whimsical spirit.
The originator of an animated YouTube mini-series coined the term “Skibidi,” which lightning fast caught fire with Gen Z audiences across social media platforms. Its recent addition to the Cambridge Dictionary is further evidence of the role digital content plays in language evolution.
One other amusing inclusion is the usage of the phrase “mouse jiggler.” This is the equivalent of a “mouse jigglers” device, or software that simulates mouse activity, generating the appearance that an employee is performing work when they really are not. Remote working became the norm during the pandemic, creating a long-lasting impact. This recent shift has pushed the once esoteric term into everyday vernacular.
Cambridge Dictionary updates its entries each year, proactively responding to new language that illustrates changes in our society. The new update brings more than 6,000 fresh words, terms and usages. This substantial double-digit growth further cements its place as the world’s most comprehensive online dictionary.
