RismadarVoice Reporters
September 16, 2026
Merriam-Webster has expanded its dictionary with about 1,400 new words and definitions, reflecting changes in language and emerging trends in contemporary society.
The American dictionary publisher announced the additions on its website on Tuesday, noting that the newly recognised terms had gained sufficient and sustained usage to warrant inclusion.
Among the new entries are “shapewear,” “looksmaxxing,” “meme coin,” “parasocial,” “vibe coding” and “superfood.”
Merriam-Webster said the latest additions were selected based on evidence of frequent, widespread and meaningful use over time.
The dictionary defines a superfood as a food particularly rich in nutrients, citing examples such as salmon, broccoli and blueberries.
The publisher has also added “cuffing season,” a phrase associated with the period when unmarried or unattached people seek short-term romantic relationships during the colder months.
Another new entry is “uncanny valley,” a term describing the uncomfortable reaction people may experience when an artificial object or character appears almost, but not entirely, human.
The inclusion comes amid growing public discussions about artificial intelligence and its increasing influence on society.
Merriam-Webster’s latest additions follow its selection of “slop” as its 2025 Word of the Year. The dictionary defines the term as low-quality digital content typically produced in large quantities using artificial intelligence.
The publisher has yet to announce its 2026 Word of the Year, an announcement it traditionally makes during the final quarter of the year.
Explaining its approach to adding new terms, Merriam-Webster said words must demonstrate substantial evidence of use before they can be considered for inclusion.
The company explained that dictionary editors assess the available evidence, after which proposed entries undergo further editorial review.
It said the process does not involve a formal committee or advocacy meetings, but is instead based on editorial assessment of how extensively and meaningfully a word has entered public usage.
