In its latest update, the Cambridge Dictionary has added 6,212 new words, phrases and meanings, in a bid to capture the evolving essence of the English language, which in today’s time, is largely shaped by internet culture, Gen Alpha slang and social trends among others. From TikTok buzzwords to remote work jargon, here are some of the most eye-catching additions.
Viral Slang Goes Mainstream
At the top of the list is ‘skibidi’, a rather nonsensical but widely used word from the viral Skibidi Toilet YouTube series. Often used humorously or with shifting meanings—like ‘cool’ or ‘bad’ phrases such as “What the skibidi are you doing?” and “That wasn’t very skibidi rizz of you”, the very word appears to have become part of our generation’s casual speech. Most recently, keeping up with the trend, American TV personality and socialite Kim Kardashian showcased a necklace engraved with ‘Skibidi Toilet’, reportedly gifted by her daughter.
Cambridge’s Lexical Programme Manager Colin McIntosh said, “Internet culture is changing the English language and the effect is fascinating to observe and capture in the Dictionary.”
Gen Z and Alpha Lingo
New generational terms like Gen Alpha (those born in the 2010s) have now officially entered the list, the dictionary recently announced on its website. So is ‘delulu’ — a playful twist on delusional, which, effectively is akin to an individual “believing things that are not real or true, usually because you choose to.” The word was very recently used in political connotations in March when Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese used the phrase “delulu with no solulu” in parliament.
Additionally, there are also ‘lewk’ (often used in reference to a distinctive fashion look), ‘tradwife’ (used in an attempt to describe a woman who embraces traditional homemaking roles), and ‘broligarchy,’ which is a youth-backed, quirky way of simply describing a group of wealthy, powerful technology-oriented men). The word was, very recently, used in notable reference to Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk, and Mark Zuckerberg during US President Donald Trump’s 2025 inauguration.
Digital and Remote Work Influence
Latest technology-inspired entries including ‘snackable’ (bite-sized content) and ‘mouse jiggler’ (a device used to simulate activity during remote work), the dictionary says only offer a reflection of our everyday screen-based lives.
Shifting Social Norms
Words like ‘work wife’ and ‘work spouse’ are now being used in common parlance to reflect platonic and trusted office-based relationships. Updated entries like ‘red flag’ and ‘green flag’, on the other hand, have been included to capture the essence of contemporary popular online dating lingo.
Environmental and Safety Terms
Environmental awareness also figured in this year’s additions with ‘forever chemical’ and ‘RAAC’ (Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete), a term linked to safety concerns in UK buildings, making it to the Cambridge list.
“We only add words where we think they’ll have staying power,” McIntosh added in remarks that suggest that internet culture is here to stay.
