New crypto words are being enshrined in the language book.
As Merriam-Webster validates many Internet catchphrases and colloquialisms by including today’s modern youth in the dictionary, language elites will have to calm down with them very quickly.
Merriam-Webster recently added 370 new words to its lexicon that, for good or bad, correspond to the modern era, the global health crisis, the war in Ukraine, the so-called “bear market” and rapidly changing technology.
The oldest dictionary publisher in the United States is making room for crypto.
Among the newly added words “Altcoin” and “Metaverse” are the most suitable additions for crypto fans.
Image: People
Crypto Words Won’t Be Left Behind
The addition of the “metaverse” comes as no surprise, as Facebook has been making headlines about its aggressive foray into the virtual domain. “Altcoins” refers to all cryptocurrencies other than bitcoin.
“Words provide a window into our ever-changing language and culture, and they are only added when there is clear and consistent evidence of their use,” Peter Sokolowski, editor-at-large of Merriam-Webster.
This year, among others, Merriam-Webster added the following:
dumbphone : a mobile gadget that lacks advanced features
Yes: injection, slang – used to express surprise, approval, or excited enthusiasm
backward , slow or delayed response
green washing Marketing strategy used by companies or organizations
lewk : fashion looks or style
sous : suspicious, suspicious
Janaki : of very poor quality
The list of new words includes additions that clearly reflect how the past few years have been for everyone.
The term “booster”, which became popular after the COVID-19 pandemic, has its own entry in Merriam-Webster’s book, as do “false positive” and “false negative” laboratory test results.
Other terms on the list will serve as a constant reminder of the state of the economy in 2022, such as “shrinking,” the practice of reducing the amount or quantity of a product when offered at the same price, and “side hustle,” meaning is any type of work done in addition to one’s full-time employment.
On their website, Merriam-Webster has also included some delectable entries like “pumpkin masala” and “biriya”.
‘Metaverse’ and ‘Altcoin’ Immortal in the Lexicon
According to Google Trends, “metaverse” is the most searched word in the following five countries: Singapore (No. 1), Turkey, China, Cyprus and the UAE.
There are around 20,000 cryptocurrencies that are considered as an alternative to established cryptocurrencies, most notably bitcoin.
In 2021, crypto-related technologies such as non-fungible tokens (NFTs) were recognized as the Word of the Year by Collins Dictionary.
NFTs play an important role in the metaverse as they help provide a neutral element for obtaining digital assets transferable between virtual environments.
“Some of these words will inspire or entertain, others can trigger a debate. Our job is to capture the language as it is used.” Sokolovsky added.
Crypto total market cap at $1 trillion on the daily chart | Source: TradingView.com Featured image from Wallpapers.com, chart from TradingView.com