How many words are there in the English language? Trying to answer this question may take longer than actually getting a dictionary and counting them one by one. It depends on how you define “words” and whether you only count those still in use. The one indisputable fact is that English is growing.
The Oxford English Dictionary, widely considered the most authoritative record of the English language, adds anywhere between 500 and 1,500 new words or phrases — and sometimes even more — every March, June, September and December. This is a huge addition to an already rich language that has been estimatedto include about 1 million words.
The OED keeps a recordof over 1,000 years of English. It is a guide to the meaning, history, and pronunciation of 600,000 words — obsolete and current — from all countries that speak the language. Not all of these words will be familiar to Americans. Here are British words and phrases Americans just don’t get.
24/7 Tempo identified the most popular words that officially entered the English language over the last decade. We reviewed more than 8,000 new words in the Oxford English Dictionary, and approximated their popularity using Google AdWords keyword planner.
Click here to see the 50 most popular words that entered the dictionary in the last decade
Click here to see our full methodology
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The average 20-year-old native speaker of American English knows 42,000 words, according to a study published in Frontiers in Psychology. He or she learns another 6,000 words between the ages of 20 and 60. This is about one word every two days. This is not a lot considering that about 4,000 words and phrases are added every year.
OED, however, is not the only Oxford dictionary. The Oxford dictionaries, which also include the Concise Oxford Dictionary, are created to describe how languages are changing, as opposed to dictate how they should be used. They look at data that tracks language use and context. A team of lexicographers, which includes a range of language experts, uses the data to determine words that should be prioritized for inclusion in the dictionary. As a result, some words are added again as they have come to mean something completely different. Here are words people misuse all the time.
Source: Louno_M / Getty Images
50. Matcha
> Introduced: June 2016
Oxford dictionary definition: Powdered green tea leaves, dissolved in hot water to make tea or used as a flavouring.
Origin: Japanese, from matsu ‘to rub’ + cha ‘tea’, from Chinese ( Mandarin dialect) chá (see tea).
Source: Artur / Getty Images
49. TGIF
> Introduced: 12/1/2018
Oxford dictionary definition: ‘Thank God it’s Friday!’; expressing relief, celebration, excitement, etc., that the working week is over and the weekend has begun.
Origin: Formed from the initials for the phrase ‘Thank God it’s Friday!’
24/7 Wall St.
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Source: Alexander Koerner / Getty Images for Ethical Fashion Show Berlin
48. Jeggings
> Introduced: June 2015
Oxford dictionary definition: Tight-fitting stretch trousers for women, styled to resemble a pair of denim jeans.
Origin: Early 21st century: blend of jeans and leggings.
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: SomeMeans / Getty Images
47. Bralette
> Introduced: December 2016
Oxford dictionary definition: A tight-fitting crop top with thin straps.
In U.S.: An unlined bra without underwires or a clasp.
Origin: 1950s (with reference to a corset-like bra): from bra + -let.
Source: Sofia Zhuravets / Getty Images
46. Shapewear
> Introduced: December 2008
Oxford dictionary definition: Women’s tight-fitting underwear intended to control and shape the figure.
[in-text-ad]
Source: jacoblund / Getty Images
45. YouTuber
> Introduced: December 2016
Oxford dictionary definition: A person who uploads, produces, or appears in videos on the video-sharing website YouTube.
Origin: Early 21st century: from YouTube, the proprietary name of the video-sharing website.
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Source: elnavegante / iStock
44. Intel
> Introduced: December 2010
Oxford dictionary definition: Information of military or political value.
Origin: 1960s: abbreviation of intelligence.
Source: pixelfit / Getty Images
43. LOL
> Introduced: March 2011
Oxford dictionary definition: Used to draw attention to a joke or amusing statement, or to express amusement.
Origin: 1980s: abbreviation of laughing out loud or laugh out loud.
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: Zephyr18 / Getty Images
42. Ransomware
> Introduced: January 2018
Oxford dictionary definition: A type of malicious software designed to block access to a computer system until a sum of money is paid.
Source: Jacob Wackerhausen / Getty Images
41. Ripple
> Introduced: June 2010
Oxford dictionary definition 1: A small wave or series of waves on the surface of water, especially as caused by a slight breeze or an object dropping into it.
Oxford dictionary definition 2: A type of ice cream with wavy lines of coloured flavoured syrup running through it.
As verb: (of water) form or flow with a series of small waves on the surface.
Origin: Late 17th century (as a verb): of unknown origin.
[in-text-ad]
Source: PeopleImages / Getty Images
40. Au pair
> Introduced: September 2013
Oxford dictionary definition: A young foreign person, typically a woman, who helps with housework or childcare in exchange for food, a room, and some pocket money.
Origin: Late 19th century: from French, literally ‘on equal terms’. The phrase was originally adjectival, describing an arrangement between two parties paid for by the exchange of mutual services; the noun usage dates from the 1960s.
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Source: Szepy / Getty Images
39. Skype
> Introduced: June 2014
Oxford dictionary definition: Have a spoken conversation with (someone) over the Internet using the software application Skype, typically also viewing by webcam.
Origin: Early 21st century: from Skype, the proprietary name of a software application and VoIP service.
Source: jacoblund / Getty Images
38. CrossFit
> Introduced: September 2018
Oxford dictionary definition: A high-intensity fitness programme incorporating elements from several sports and types of exercise.
Origin: Early 21st century: blend of cross training and fit.
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: fizkes / iStock
37. Smeg
> Introduced: June 2013
Oxford dictionary definition: Used as a mild expletive.
Origin: 1980s: origin uncertain, but often interpreted as a shortening of smegma; first used on the British television series Red Dwarf.
Source: vgajic / Getty Images
36. Webinar
> Introduced: December 2008
Oxford dictionary definition: A seminar conducted over the Internet.
Origin: 1990s: blend of web and seminar.
[in-text-ad]
Source: avdyachenko / Getty Images
35. Podcast
> Introduced: December 2008
Oxford dictionary origin: A digital audio file made available on the Internet for downloading to a computer or mobile device, typically available as a series, new instalments of which can be received by subscribers automatically.
As verb: Make (a digital audio file) available as a podcast.
Origin: Early 21st century: from iPod + broadcast.
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Source: egal / Getty Images
34. Spirulina
> Introduced: June 2012
Oxford dictionary definition: Filamentous cyanobacteria which form tangled masses in warm alkaline lakes in Africa and Central and South America.
Origin: Modern Latin, from spirula ‘small spiral (shell)’.
Source: b-d-s / iStock
33. Totes
> Introduced: June 2015
Oxford dictionary definition: Totally.
Origin: Early 21st century: alteration of totally.
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: AntonioGuillem / iStock
32. Bumble
> Introduced: September 2018
Oxford definition dictionary: Move or act in an awkward or confused manner.
Or to speak in a confused or indistinct way.
Or with adverbial (of an insect): buzz or hum.
Origin: Late Middle English (in the sense ‘hum, drone’): from boom + -le.
Source: nito100 / Getty Images
31. Sexting
> Introduced: June 2015
Oxford definition dictionary: A service forming part of the Divine Office of the Western Christian Church, traditionally said (or chanted) at the sixth hour of the day (i.e. noon).
Origin: Late Middle English: from Latin sexta (hora) ‘sixth (hour)’, from sextus ‘sixth’.
[in-text-ad]
Source: AndreyPopov / Getty Images
30. Crowdfunding
> Introduced: June 2015
Oxford definition dictionary: The practice of funding a project or venture by raising money from a large number of people who each contribute a relatively small amount, typically via the Internet.
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Source: gorodenkoff / Getty Images
29. Firewall
> Introduced: December 2015
Oxford definition dictionary: A wall or partition designed to inhibit or prevent the spread of fire.
In computing: A part of a computer system or network which is designed to block unauthorized access while permitting outward communication.
Another term for Chinese wall.
As verb: Protect (a network or system) from unauthorized access with a firewall.
Source: stuartmiles99 / Getty Images
28. Cyber-
> Introduced: December 2010
Oxford dictionary definition: Relating to or characteristic of the culture of computers, information technology, and virtual reality.
Origin: 1980s: abbreviation of cybernetics.
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: RJHeurung / Getty Images
27. Firebase
> Introduced: December 2015
Oxford dictionary definition: An area in a war zone in which artillery can be massed to provide heavy firepower to support other military units.
Source: egal / Getty Images
26. Brexit
> Introduced: December 2016
Oxford dictionary definition: The withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union.
Origin: 2012: blend of British (or Britain) and exit, probably on the pattern of Grexit (coined earlier in the same year).
[in-text-ad]
Source: diego_cervo / Getty Images
25. SMS
> Introduced: December 2009
Oxford dictionary definition: Short Message (or Messaging) Service, a system that enables mobile phone users to send and receive text messages.
As noun: A text message that is sent or received using SMS.
As verb: Send someone a text message using SMS.
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Source: PJPhoto69 / Getty Images
24. Cosplay
> Introduced: December 2008
Oxford dictionary definition: The practice of dressing up as a character from a film, book, or video game, especially one from the Japanese genres of manga or anime.
As verb: Engage in cosplay.
Origin: 1990s: blend of costume and play after Japanese kosupure, ultimately from English costume play.
Source: EkaterinaZakharova / Getty Images
23. CD
> Introduced: March 2012
Oxford dictionary definitions:
A compact disc.
Civil defence
Corps diplomatique (diplomatic corps)
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: ClaudioVentrella / Getty Images
22. Astro
> Introduced: March 2012
Oxford dictionary definition: Relating to the stars or celestial objects.
Origin: From Greek astron ‘star’.
Source: Spic / Getty Images
21. E-bike
> Introduced: June 2019
Oxford dictionary definition: An electric bicycle.
Origin: Formed from within English by combining e- with the noun bike.
Source: DMEPhotography / iStock
20. Stan
> Introduced: June 2018
Oxford dictionary definition: An overzealous or obsessive fan of a particular celebrity.
As verb: Be an overzealous or obsessive fan of a particular celebrity.
Origin: Early 21st century: probably with allusion to the 2000 song ‘Stan’ by the American rapper Eminem, about an obsessed fan.
[in-text-ad]
Source: AndreyPopov / iStock
19. ISA
> Introduced: September 2015
Oxford dictionary definition: (in the UK) an individual savings account, a scheme allowing individuals to hold cash, shares, and unit trusts free of tax on dividends, interest, and capital gains. In 1999 it replaced both personal equity plans (PEPs) and tax-exempt special savings accounts (TESSAs).
In computing: Industry standard architecture, a standard for connecting computers and their peripherals.
ALSO READ: Canadian Slang and Phrases Americans Just Don’t Get
Source: Jeff Dahl / Wikimedia Commons
18. Ba
> Introduced: December 2013
Oxford dictionary definition: In ancient Egypt, the supposed soul of a person or god, which survived after death but had to be sustained with offerings of food. It was typically represented as a human-headed bird.
Or: The chemical element barium.
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
17. Ge
> Introduced: March 2012
Oxford dictionary definition: The chemical element germanium.
In Greek Mythology: another name for Gaia
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: Oleksii Spesyvtsev / iStock
16. Ringtone
> Introduced: January 2018
Oxford dictionary definition: A sound made by a mobile phone when an incoming call is received.
Source: sveta_zarzamora / Getty Images
15. Kombucha
> Introduced: June 2013
Oxford dictionary definition: A beverage produced by fermenting sweet tea with a culture of yeast and bacteria.
Origin: Japanese konbucha, literally ‘kelp tea’; the origin of the English meaning, which is not found in Japanese, is unclear and may reflect a development in another language.
[in-text-ad]
Source: JohnnyGreig / Getty Images
14. Eurostar
> Introduced: March 2008
Oxford dictionary definition: The high-speed passenger rail service that links London with various European cities via the Channel Tunnel.
ALSO READ: 50 Words People Get Wrong All the Time
Source: PhotoBylove / Getty Images
13. SSD
> Introduced: March 2013
Oxford dictionary definition: A storage device containing non-volatile flash memory, used in place of a hard disk because of its much greater speed.
Origin: 1980s: abbreviation of solid state drive or solid state disk.
Source: kapulya / Getty Images
12. Asana
> Introduced: September 2018
Oxford dictionary definition: A posture adopted in performing hatha yoga.
Origin: From Sanskrit āsana ‘seat, manner of sitting’.
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: Grassetto / Getty Images
11. Router
> Introduced: March 2011
Oxford dictionary definition: A power tool with a shaped cutter, used in carpentry for making grooves for joints, decorative mouldings, etc.
Or: A device which forwards data packets to the appropriate parts of a computer network.
Source: FrozenShutter / Getty Images
10. Disney
> Introduced: January 2018
Reminiscent of a film or theme park created by the Walt Disney Company, especially in being simplified, sanitized, or romanticized.
In North American Denoting: A non-custodial parent who, when spending time with their child or children, indulges them with gifts, special outings, and other treats, leaving disciplinary responsibilities to the custodial parent.
Origin: 1930s: from the name of Walter Elias Disney (see Disney, Walt).
[in-text-ad]
Source: kazatin / Getty Images
9. Hoverboard
> Introduced: September 2015
Oxford dictionary definition: (Chiefly in science fiction) a means of transport resembling a skateboard that travels above the surface of the ground, ridden in a standing position.
As trademark: A motorized personal vehicle consisting of a platform for the feet mounted on two wheels and controlled by the way the rider distributes their weight.
As a motorized personal vehicle consisting of a single central wheel with platforms for the feet on either side and controlled by the way the rider distributes their weight.
Origin: 1980s: from hover + -board (as in skateboard), popularized by the 1989 film Back to the Future Part II.
ALSO READ: 33 Words People Misuse All the Time
Source: Sergiodelgado / Wikimedia Commons
8. Ai
> Introduced: September 2012
Oxford dictionary definition: The three-toed sloth.
Origin: Early 17th century: from Tupi, imitative of its cry.
Source: SIphotography / iStock
7. Ee
> Introduced: June 2018
Oxford dictionary definition: Used to express a range of emotions including surprise, anger, disappointment, or joy, or when reacting to a remark’
Origin: Northern English form of oh.
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: papparaffie / iStock
6. XXX
> Introduced: September 2018
Oxford dictionary definition: The number equivalent to the product of three and ten; ten less than forty; 30.
Origin: Old English thrītig (see three, -ty). The spelling with initial thi- is recorded in literature in the 15th century, and has been the prevalent form since the 16th century.
Source: metamorworks / Getty Images
5. Broadband
> Introduced: September 2012
Oxford dictionary definition: A high-capacity transmission technique using a wide range of frequencies, which enables a large number of messages to be communicated simultaneously.
[in-text-ad]
Source: UberImages / iStock
4. Audible
> Introduced: June 2011
Oxford dictionary definition: Able to be heard.
In American Football: A change of playing tactics called by the quarterback at the line of scrimmage.
Origin: Late 15th century: from late Latin audibilis, from audire ‘hear’.
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Source: fizkes / iStock
3. Oppo
> Introduced: June 2012
Oxford dictionary definition: A colleague or friend.
As a noun in the U.S.: short for opposition research
Origin: 1930s: abbreviation of opposite number.
Source: coffeekai / iStock
2. Facebook
> Introduced: June 2018
Oxford dictionary definition: Spend time using the social networking website Facebook.
Origin: Early 21st century: from Facebook, the proprietary name of the social networking website.
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: LightFieldStudios / iStock
1. Uber
> Introduced: June 2015
Oxford dictionary definition: As a combining form – Denoting an outstanding or supreme example of a particular kind of person or thing.
Origin: German über ‘over’, after Übermensch.
Methodology
To determine the most popular additions to the dictionary since 2008, 24/7 Tempo looked at over 8,000 new words. New subordinate entries and phases, as well as added new meanings to words already in the dictionary, were excluded. To approximate the popularity of each word, we used estimates of search frequency from Google’s Adwords keyword planner.
Homographs, such as “truck” and “shopping,” have also been excluded. They are spelled the same, but have different origin and meaning. Words that are being used as prefixes such as “digi-” have also been removed.
The list is based on the Oxford English Dictionary, but the definition of the words is taken from Oxford Dictionaries.
The following list is ranked in order from the word with the least Google impressions to the most. Due to the fact that some of the new words have several very different meanings, a few words ended up ranking high on the list, even though they were probably searched in terms of an informal definition that was not included in the Oxford dictionary.
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A RAPTIVE PARTNER
How many words are there in the English language? Trying to answer this question may take longer than actually getting a dictionary and counting them one by one. It depends on how you define “words” and whether you only count those still in use. The one indisputable fact is that English is growing.
The Oxford English Dictionary, widely considered the most authoritative record of the English language, adds anywhere between 500 and 1,500 new words or phrases — and sometimes even more — every March, June, September and December. This is a huge addition to an already rich language that has been estimatedto include about 1 million words.
The OED keeps a recordof over 1,000 years of English. It is a guide to the meaning, history, and pronunciation of 600,000 words — obsolete and current — from all countries that speak the language. Not all of these words will be familiar to Americans. Here are British words and phrases Americans just don’t get.
24/7 Tempo identified the most popular words that officially entered the English language over the last decade. We reviewed more than 8,000 new words in the Oxford English Dictionary, and approximated their popularity using Google AdWords keyword planner.
Click here to see the 50 most popular words that entered the dictionary in the last decade
Click here to see our full methodology
null
The average 20-year-old native speaker of American English knows 42,000 words, according to a study published in Frontiers in Psychology. He or she learns another 6,000 words between the ages of 20 and 60. This is about one word every two days. This is not a lot considering that about 4,000 words and phrases are added every year.
OED, however, is not the only Oxford dictionary. The Oxford dictionaries, which also include the Concise Oxford Dictionary, are created to describe how languages are changing, as opposed to dictate how they should be used. They look at data that tracks language use and context. A team of lexicographers, which includes a range of language experts, uses the data to determine words that should be prioritized for inclusion in the dictionary. As a result, some words are added again as they have come to mean something completely different. Here are words people misuse all the time.
Source: Louno_M / Getty Images
50. Matcha
> Introduced: June 2016
Oxford dictionary definition: Powdered green tea leaves, dissolved in hot water to make tea or used as a flavouring.
Origin: Japanese, from matsu ‘to rub’ + cha ‘tea’, from Chinese ( Mandarin dialect) chá (see tea).
Source: Artur / Getty Images
49. TGIF
> Introduced: 12/1/2018
Oxford dictionary definition: ‘Thank God it’s Friday!’; expressing relief, celebration, excitement, etc., that the working week is over and the weekend has begun.
Origin: Formed from the initials for the phrase ‘Thank God it’s Friday!’
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Source: Alexander Koerner / Getty Images for Ethical Fashion Show Berlin
48. Jeggings
> Introduced: June 2015
Oxford dictionary definition: Tight-fitting stretch trousers for women, styled to resemble a pair of denim jeans.
Origin: Early 21st century: blend of jeans and leggings.
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: SomeMeans / Getty Images
47. Bralette
> Introduced: December 2016
Oxford dictionary definition: A tight-fitting crop top with thin straps.
In U.S.: An unlined bra without underwires or a clasp.
Origin: 1950s (with reference to a corset-like bra): from bra + -let.
Source: Sofia Zhuravets / Getty Images
46. Shapewear
> Introduced: December 2008
Oxford dictionary definition: Women’s tight-fitting underwear intended to control and shape the figure.
[in-text-ad]
Source: jacoblund / Getty Images
45. YouTuber
> Introduced: December 2016
Oxford dictionary definition: A person who uploads, produces, or appears in videos on the video-sharing website YouTube.
Origin: Early 21st century: from YouTube, the proprietary name of the video-sharing website.
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Source: elnavegante / iStock
44. Intel
> Introduced: December 2010
Oxford dictionary definition: Information of military or political value.
Origin: 1960s: abbreviation of intelligence.
Source: pixelfit / Getty Images
43. LOL
> Introduced: March 2011
Oxford dictionary definition: Used to draw attention to a joke or amusing statement, or to express amusement.
Origin: 1980s: abbreviation of laughing out loud or laugh out loud.
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: Zephyr18 / Getty Images
42. Ransomware
> Introduced: January 2018
Oxford dictionary definition: A type of malicious software designed to block access to a computer system until a sum of money is paid.
Source: Jacob Wackerhausen / Getty Images
41. Ripple
> Introduced: June 2010
Oxford dictionary definition 1: A small wave or series of waves on the surface of water, especially as caused by a slight breeze or an object dropping into it.
Oxford dictionary definition 2: A type of ice cream with wavy lines of coloured flavoured syrup running through it.
As verb: (of water) form or flow with a series of small waves on the surface.
Origin: Late 17th century (as a verb): of unknown origin.
[in-text-ad]
Source: PeopleImages / Getty Images
40. Au pair
> Introduced: September 2013
Oxford dictionary definition: A young foreign person, typically a woman, who helps with housework or childcare in exchange for food, a room, and some pocket money.
Origin: Late 19th century: from French, literally ‘on equal terms’. The phrase was originally adjectival, describing an arrangement between two parties paid for by the exchange of mutual services; the noun usage dates from the 1960s.
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Source: Szepy / Getty Images
39. Skype
> Introduced: June 2014
Oxford dictionary definition: Have a spoken conversation with (someone) over the Internet using the software application Skype, typically also viewing by webcam.
Origin: Early 21st century: from Skype, the proprietary name of a software application and VoIP service.
Source: jacoblund / Getty Images
38. CrossFit
> Introduced: September 2018
Oxford dictionary definition: A high-intensity fitness programme incorporating elements from several sports and types of exercise.
Origin: Early 21st century: blend of cross training and fit.
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: fizkes / iStock
37. Smeg
> Introduced: June 2013
Oxford dictionary definition: Used as a mild expletive.
Origin: 1980s: origin uncertain, but often interpreted as a shortening of smegma; first used on the British television series Red Dwarf.
Source: vgajic / Getty Images
36. Webinar
> Introduced: December 2008
Oxford dictionary definition: A seminar conducted over the Internet.
Origin: 1990s: blend of web and seminar.
[in-text-ad]
Source: avdyachenko / Getty Images
35. Podcast
> Introduced: December 2008
Oxford dictionary origin: A digital audio file made available on the Internet for downloading to a computer or mobile device, typically available as a series, new instalments of which can be received by subscribers automatically.
As verb: Make (a digital audio file) available as a podcast.
Origin: Early 21st century: from iPod + broadcast.
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Source: egal / Getty Images
34. Spirulina
> Introduced: June 2012
Oxford dictionary definition: Filamentous cyanobacteria which form tangled masses in warm alkaline lakes in Africa and Central and South America.
Origin: Modern Latin, from spirula ‘small spiral (shell)’.
Source: b-d-s / iStock
33. Totes
> Introduced: June 2015
Oxford dictionary definition: Totally.
Origin: Early 21st century: alteration of totally.
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: AntonioGuillem / iStock
32. Bumble
> Introduced: September 2018
Oxford definition dictionary: Move or act in an awkward or confused manner.
Or to speak in a confused or indistinct way.
Or with adverbial (of an insect): buzz or hum.
Origin: Late Middle English (in the sense ‘hum, drone’): from boom + -le.
Source: nito100 / Getty Images
31. Sexting
> Introduced: June 2015
Oxford definition dictionary: A service forming part of the Divine Office of the Western Christian Church, traditionally said (or chanted) at the sixth hour of the day (i.e. noon).
Origin: Late Middle English: from Latin sexta (hora) ‘sixth (hour)’, from sextus ‘sixth’.
[in-text-ad]
Source: AndreyPopov / Getty Images
30. Crowdfunding
> Introduced: June 2015
Oxford definition dictionary: The practice of funding a project or venture by raising money from a large number of people who each contribute a relatively small amount, typically via the Internet.
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Source: gorodenkoff / Getty Images
29. Firewall
> Introduced: December 2015
Oxford definition dictionary: A wall or partition designed to inhibit or prevent the spread of fire.
In computing: A part of a computer system or network which is designed to block unauthorized access while permitting outward communication.
Another term for Chinese wall.
As verb: Protect (a network or system) from unauthorized access with a firewall.
Source: stuartmiles99 / Getty Images
28. Cyber-
> Introduced: December 2010
Oxford dictionary definition: Relating to or characteristic of the culture of computers, information technology, and virtual reality.
Origin: 1980s: abbreviation of cybernetics.
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: RJHeurung / Getty Images
27. Firebase
> Introduced: December 2015
Oxford dictionary definition: An area in a war zone in which artillery can be massed to provide heavy firepower to support other military units.
Source: egal / Getty Images
26. Brexit
> Introduced: December 2016
Oxford dictionary definition: The withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union.
Origin: 2012: blend of British (or Britain) and exit, probably on the pattern of Grexit (coined earlier in the same year).
[in-text-ad]
Source: diego_cervo / Getty Images
25. SMS
> Introduced: December 2009
Oxford dictionary definition: Short Message (or Messaging) Service, a system that enables mobile phone users to send and receive text messages.
As noun: A text message that is sent or received using SMS.
As verb: Send someone a text message using SMS.
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Source: PJPhoto69 / Getty Images
24. Cosplay
> Introduced: December 2008
Oxford dictionary definition: The practice of dressing up as a character from a film, book, or video game, especially one from the Japanese genres of manga or anime.
As verb: Engage in cosplay.
Origin: 1990s: blend of costume and play after Japanese kosupure, ultimately from English costume play.
Source: EkaterinaZakharova / Getty Images
23. CD
> Introduced: March 2012
Oxford dictionary definitions:
A compact disc.
Civil defence
Corps diplomatique (diplomatic corps)
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: ClaudioVentrella / Getty Images
22. Astro
> Introduced: March 2012
Oxford dictionary definition: Relating to the stars or celestial objects.
Origin: From Greek astron ‘star’.
Source: Spic / Getty Images
21. E-bike
> Introduced: June 2019
Oxford dictionary definition: An electric bicycle.
Origin: Formed from within English by combining e- with the noun bike.
Source: DMEPhotography / iStock
20. Stan
> Introduced: June 2018
Oxford dictionary definition: An overzealous or obsessive fan of a particular celebrity.
As verb: Be an overzealous or obsessive fan of a particular celebrity.
Origin: Early 21st century: probably with allusion to the 2000 song ‘Stan’ by the American rapper Eminem, about an obsessed fan.
[in-text-ad]
Source: AndreyPopov / iStock
19. ISA
> Introduced: September 2015
Oxford dictionary definition: (in the UK) an individual savings account, a scheme allowing individuals to hold cash, shares, and unit trusts free of tax on dividends, interest, and capital gains. In 1999 it replaced both personal equity plans (PEPs) and tax-exempt special savings accounts (TESSAs).
In computing: Industry standard architecture, a standard for connecting computers and their peripherals.
ALSO READ: Canadian Slang and Phrases Americans Just Don’t Get
Source: Jeff Dahl / Wikimedia Commons
18. Ba
> Introduced: December 2013
Oxford dictionary definition: In ancient Egypt, the supposed soul of a person or god, which survived after death but had to be sustained with offerings of food. It was typically represented as a human-headed bird.
Or: The chemical element barium.
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
17. Ge
> Introduced: March 2012
Oxford dictionary definition: The chemical element germanium.
In Greek Mythology: another name for Gaia
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: Oleksii Spesyvtsev / iStock
16. Ringtone
> Introduced: January 2018
Oxford dictionary definition: A sound made by a mobile phone when an incoming call is received.
Source: sveta_zarzamora / Getty Images
15. Kombucha
> Introduced: June 2013
Oxford dictionary definition: A beverage produced by fermenting sweet tea with a culture of yeast and bacteria.
Origin: Japanese konbucha, literally ‘kelp tea’; the origin of the English meaning, which is not found in Japanese, is unclear and may reflect a development in another language.
[in-text-ad]
Source: JohnnyGreig / Getty Images
14. Eurostar
> Introduced: March 2008
Oxford dictionary definition: The high-speed passenger rail service that links London with various European cities via the Channel Tunnel.
ALSO READ: 50 Words People Get Wrong All the Time
Source: PhotoBylove / Getty Images
13. SSD
> Introduced: March 2013
Oxford dictionary definition: A storage device containing non-volatile flash memory, used in place of a hard disk because of its much greater speed.
Origin: 1980s: abbreviation of solid state drive or solid state disk.
Source: kapulya / Getty Images
12. Asana
> Introduced: September 2018
Oxford dictionary definition: A posture adopted in performing hatha yoga.
Origin: From Sanskrit āsana ‘seat, manner of sitting’.
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: Grassetto / Getty Images
11. Router
> Introduced: March 2011
Oxford dictionary definition: A power tool with a shaped cutter, used in carpentry for making grooves for joints, decorative mouldings, etc.
Or: A device which forwards data packets to the appropriate parts of a computer network.
Source: FrozenShutter / Getty Images
10. Disney
> Introduced: January 2018
Reminiscent of a film or theme park created by the Walt Disney Company, especially in being simplified, sanitized, or romanticized.
In North American Denoting: A non-custodial parent who, when spending time with their child or children, indulges them with gifts, special outings, and other treats, leaving disciplinary responsibilities to the custodial parent.
Origin: 1930s: from the name of Walter Elias Disney (see Disney, Walt).
[in-text-ad]
Source: kazatin / Getty Images
9. Hoverboard
> Introduced: September 2015
Oxford dictionary definition: (Chiefly in science fiction) a means of transport resembling a skateboard that travels above the surface of the ground, ridden in a standing position.
As trademark: A motorized personal vehicle consisting of a platform for the feet mounted on two wheels and controlled by the way the rider distributes their weight.
As a motorized personal vehicle consisting of a single central wheel with platforms for the feet on either side and controlled by the way the rider distributes their weight.
Origin: 1980s: from hover + -board (as in skateboard), popularized by the 1989 film Back to the Future Part II.
ALSO READ: 33 Words People Misuse All the Time
Source: Sergiodelgado / Wikimedia Commons
8. Ai
> Introduced: September 2012
Oxford dictionary definition: The three-toed sloth.
Origin: Early 17th century: from Tupi, imitative of its cry.
Source: SIphotography / iStock
7. Ee
> Introduced: June 2018
Oxford dictionary definition: Used to express a range of emotions including surprise, anger, disappointment, or joy, or when reacting to a remark’
Origin: Northern English form of oh.
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: papparaffie / iStock
6. XXX
> Introduced: September 2018
Oxford dictionary definition: The number equivalent to the product of three and ten; ten less than forty; 30.
Origin: Old English thrītig (see three, -ty). The spelling with initial thi- is recorded in literature in the 15th century, and has been the prevalent form since the 16th century.
Source: metamorworks / Getty Images
5. Broadband
> Introduced: September 2012
Oxford dictionary definition: A high-capacity transmission technique using a wide range of frequencies, which enables a large number of messages to be communicated simultaneously.
[in-text-ad]
Source: UberImages / iStock
4. Audible
> Introduced: June 2011
Oxford dictionary definition: Able to be heard.
In American Football: A change of playing tactics called by the quarterback at the line of scrimmage.
Origin: Late 15th century: from late Latin audibilis, from audire ‘hear’.
24/7 Wall St.
Australian Words and Phrases Americans Just Don’t Get
Source: fizkes / iStock
3. Oppo
> Introduced: June 2012
Oxford dictionary definition: A colleague or friend.
As a noun in the U.S.: short for opposition research
Origin: 1930s: abbreviation of opposite number.
Source: coffeekai / iStock
2. Facebook
> Introduced: June 2018
Oxford dictionary definition: Spend time using the social networking website Facebook.
Origin: Early 21st century: from Facebook, the proprietary name of the social networking website.
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: LightFieldStudios / iStock
1. Uber
> Introduced: June 2015
Oxford dictionary definition: As a combining form – Denoting an outstanding or supreme example of a particular kind of person or thing.
Origin: German über ‘over’, after Übermensch.
Methodology
To determine the most popular additions to the dictionary since 2008, 24/7 Tempo looked at over 8,000 new words. New subordinate entries and phases, as well as added new meanings to words already in the dictionary, were excluded. To approximate the popularity of each word, we used estimates of search frequency from Google’s Adwords keyword planner.
Homographs, such as “truck” and “shopping,” have also been excluded. They are spelled the same, but have different origin and meaning. Words that are being used as prefixes such as “digi-” have also been removed.
The list is based on the Oxford English Dictionary, but the definition of the words is taken from Oxford Dictionaries.
The following list is ranked in order from the word with the least Google impressions to the most. Due to the fact that some of the new words have several very different meanings, a few words ended up ranking high on the list, even though they were probably searched in terms of an informal definition that was not included in the Oxford dictionary.
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Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.
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A RAPTIVE PARTNER
How many words are there in the English language? Trying to answer this question may take longer than actually getting a dictionary and counting them one by one. It depends on how you define “words” and whether you only count those still in use. The one indisputable fact is that English is growing.
The Oxford English Dictionary, widely considered the most authoritative record of the English language, adds anywhere between 500 and 1,500 new words or phrases — and sometimes even more — every March, June, September and December. This is a huge addition to an already rich language that has been estimatedto include about 1 million words.
The OED keeps a recordof over 1,000 years of English. It is a guide to the meaning, history, and pronunciation of 600,000 words — obsolete and current — from all countries that speak the language. Not all of these words will be familiar to Americans. Here are British words and phrases Americans just don’t get.
24/7 Tempo identified the most popular words that officially entered the English language over the last decade. We reviewed more than 8,000 new words in the Oxford English Dictionary, and approximated their popularity using Google AdWords keyword planner.
Click here to see the 50 most popular words that entered the dictionary in the last decade
Click here to see our full methodology
null
The average 20-year-old native speaker of American English knows 42,000 words, according to a study published in Frontiers in Psychology. He or she learns another 6,000 words between the ages of 20 and 60. This is about one word every two days. This is not a lot considering that about 4,000 words and phrases are added every year.
OED, however, is not the only Oxford dictionary. The Oxford dictionaries, which also include the Concise Oxford Dictionary, are created to describe how languages are changing, as opposed to dictate how they should be used. They look at data that tracks language use and context. A team of lexicographers, which includes a range of language experts, uses the data to determine words that should be prioritized for inclusion in the dictionary. As a result, some words are added again as they have come to mean something completely different. Here are words people misuse all the time.
Source: Louno_M / Getty Images
50. Matcha
> Introduced: June 2016
Oxford dictionary definition: Powdered green tea leaves, dissolved in hot water to make tea or used as a flavouring.
Origin: Japanese, from matsu ‘to rub’ + cha ‘tea’, from Chinese ( Mandarin dialect) chá (see tea).
Source: Artur / Getty Images
49. TGIF
> Introduced: 12/1/2018
Oxford dictionary definition: ‘Thank God it’s Friday!’; expressing relief, celebration, excitement, etc., that the working week is over and the weekend has begun.
Origin: Formed from the initials for the phrase ‘Thank God it’s Friday!’
24/7 Wall St.
50 Words People Get Wrong All the Time
Source: Alexander Koerner / Getty Images for Ethical Fashion Show Berlin
48. Jeggings
> Introduced: June 2015
Oxford dictionary definition: Tight-fitting stretch trousers for women, styled to resemble a pair of denim jeans.
Origin: Early 21st century: blend of jeans and leggings.
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: SomeMeans / Getty Images
47. Bralette
> Introduced: December 2016
Oxford dictionary definition: A tight-fitting crop top with thin straps.
In U.S.: An unlined bra without underwires or a clasp.
Origin: 1950s (with reference to a corset-like bra): from bra + -let.
Source: Sofia Zhuravets / Getty Images
46. Shapewear
> Introduced: December 2008
Oxford dictionary definition: Women’s tight-fitting underwear intended to control and shape the figure.
[in-text-ad]
Source: jacoblund / Getty Images
45. YouTuber
> Introduced: December 2016
Oxford dictionary definition: A person who uploads, produces, or appears in videos on the video-sharing website YouTube.
Origin: Early 21st century: from YouTube, the proprietary name of the video-sharing website.
24/7 Wall St.
33 Words People Misuse All the Time
Source: elnavegante / iStock
44. Intel
> Introduced: December 2010
Oxford dictionary definition: Information of military or political value.
Origin: 1960s: abbreviation of intelligence.
Source: pixelfit / Getty Images
43. LOL
> Introduced: March 2011
Oxford dictionary definition: Used to draw attention to a joke or amusing statement, or to express amusement.
Origin: 1980s: abbreviation of laughing out loud or laugh out loud.
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: Zephyr18 / Getty Images
42. Ransomware
> Introduced: January 2018
Oxford dictionary definition: A type of malicious software designed to block access to a computer system until a sum of money is paid.
Source: Jacob Wackerhausen / Getty Images
41. Ripple
> Introduced: June 2010
Oxford dictionary definition 1: A small wave or series of waves on the surface of water, especially as caused by a slight breeze or an object dropping into it.
Oxford dictionary definition 2: A type of ice cream with wavy lines of coloured flavoured syrup running through it.
As verb: (of water) form or flow with a series of small waves on the surface.
Origin: Late 17th century (as a verb): of unknown origin.
[in-text-ad]
Source: PeopleImages / Getty Images
40. Au pair
> Introduced: September 2013
Oxford dictionary definition: A young foreign person, typically a woman, who helps with housework or childcare in exchange for food, a room, and some pocket money.
Origin: Late 19th century: from French, literally ‘on equal terms’. The phrase was originally adjectival, describing an arrangement between two parties paid for by the exchange of mutual services; the noun usage dates from the 1960s.
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Australian Words and Phrases Americans Just Don’t Get
Source: Szepy / Getty Images
39. Skype
> Introduced: June 2014
Oxford dictionary definition: Have a spoken conversation with (someone) over the Internet using the software application Skype, typically also viewing by webcam.
Origin: Early 21st century: from Skype, the proprietary name of a software application and VoIP service.
Source: jacoblund / Getty Images
38. CrossFit
> Introduced: September 2018
Oxford dictionary definition: A high-intensity fitness programme incorporating elements from several sports and types of exercise.
Origin: Early 21st century: blend of cross training and fit.
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: fizkes / iStock
37. Smeg
> Introduced: June 2013
Oxford dictionary definition: Used as a mild expletive.
Origin: 1980s: origin uncertain, but often interpreted as a shortening of smegma; first used on the British television series Red Dwarf.
Source: vgajic / Getty Images
36. Webinar
> Introduced: December 2008
Oxford dictionary definition: A seminar conducted over the Internet.
Origin: 1990s: blend of web and seminar.
[in-text-ad]
Source: avdyachenko / Getty Images
35. Podcast
> Introduced: December 2008
Oxford dictionary origin: A digital audio file made available on the Internet for downloading to a computer or mobile device, typically available as a series, new instalments of which can be received by subscribers automatically.
As verb: Make (a digital audio file) available as a podcast.
Origin: Early 21st century: from iPod + broadcast.
24/7 Wall St.
50 British Words and Phrases Americans Just Don’t Get
Source: egal / Getty Images
34. Spirulina
> Introduced: June 2012
Oxford dictionary definition: Filamentous cyanobacteria which form tangled masses in warm alkaline lakes in Africa and Central and South America.
Origin: Modern Latin, from spirula ‘small spiral (shell)’.
Source: b-d-s / iStock
33. Totes
> Introduced: June 2015
Oxford dictionary definition: Totally.
Origin: Early 21st century: alteration of totally.
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: AntonioGuillem / iStock
32. Bumble
> Introduced: September 2018
Oxford definition dictionary: Move or act in an awkward or confused manner.
Or to speak in a confused or indistinct way.
Or with adverbial (of an insect): buzz or hum.
Origin: Late Middle English (in the sense ‘hum, drone’): from boom + -le.
Source: nito100 / Getty Images
31. Sexting
> Introduced: June 2015
Oxford definition dictionary: A service forming part of the Divine Office of the Western Christian Church, traditionally said (or chanted) at the sixth hour of the day (i.e. noon).
Origin: Late Middle English: from Latin sexta (hora) ‘sixth (hour)’, from sextus ‘sixth’.
[in-text-ad]
Source: AndreyPopov / Getty Images
30. Crowdfunding
> Introduced: June 2015
Oxford definition dictionary: The practice of funding a project or venture by raising money from a large number of people who each contribute a relatively small amount, typically via the Internet.
24/7 Wall St.
Every Spelling Bee Winning Word over the Last 20 Years
Source: gorodenkoff / Getty Images
29. Firewall
> Introduced: December 2015
Oxford definition dictionary: A wall or partition designed to inhibit or prevent the spread of fire.
In computing: A part of a computer system or network which is designed to block unauthorized access while permitting outward communication.
Another term for Chinese wall.
As verb: Protect (a network or system) from unauthorized access with a firewall.
Source: stuartmiles99 / Getty Images
28. Cyber-
> Introduced: December 2010
Oxford dictionary definition: Relating to or characteristic of the culture of computers, information technology, and virtual reality.
Origin: 1980s: abbreviation of cybernetics.
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: RJHeurung / Getty Images
27. Firebase
> Introduced: December 2015
Oxford dictionary definition: An area in a war zone in which artillery can be massed to provide heavy firepower to support other military units.
Source: egal / Getty Images
26. Brexit
> Introduced: December 2016
Oxford dictionary definition: The withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union.
Origin: 2012: blend of British (or Britain) and exit, probably on the pattern of Grexit (coined earlier in the same year).
[in-text-ad]
Source: diego_cervo / Getty Images
25. SMS
> Introduced: December 2009
Oxford dictionary definition: Short Message (or Messaging) Service, a system that enables mobile phone users to send and receive text messages.
As noun: A text message that is sent or received using SMS.
As verb: Send someone a text message using SMS.
24/7 Wall St.
50 Commonly Misspelled Words in English
Source: PJPhoto69 / Getty Images
24. Cosplay
> Introduced: December 2008
Oxford dictionary definition: The practice of dressing up as a character from a film, book, or video game, especially one from the Japanese genres of manga or anime.
As verb: Engage in cosplay.
Origin: 1990s: blend of costume and play after Japanese kosupure, ultimately from English costume play.
Source: EkaterinaZakharova / Getty Images
23. CD
> Introduced: March 2012
Oxford dictionary definitions:
A compact disc.
Civil defence
Corps diplomatique (diplomatic corps)
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: ClaudioVentrella / Getty Images
22. Astro
> Introduced: March 2012
Oxford dictionary definition: Relating to the stars or celestial objects.
Origin: From Greek astron ‘star’.
Source: Spic / Getty Images
21. E-bike
> Introduced: June 2019
Oxford dictionary definition: An electric bicycle.
Origin: Formed from within English by combining e- with the noun bike.
Source: DMEPhotography / iStock
20. Stan
> Introduced: June 2018
Oxford dictionary definition: An overzealous or obsessive fan of a particular celebrity.
As verb: Be an overzealous or obsessive fan of a particular celebrity.
Origin: Early 21st century: probably with allusion to the 2000 song ‘Stan’ by the American rapper Eminem, about an obsessed fan.
[in-text-ad]
Source: AndreyPopov / iStock
19. ISA
> Introduced: September 2015
Oxford dictionary definition: (in the UK) an individual savings account, a scheme allowing individuals to hold cash, shares, and unit trusts free of tax on dividends, interest, and capital gains. In 1999 it replaced both personal equity plans (PEPs) and tax-exempt special savings accounts (TESSAs).
In computing: Industry standard architecture, a standard for connecting computers and their peripherals.
ALSO READ: Canadian Slang and Phrases Americans Just Don’t Get
Source: Jeff Dahl / Wikimedia Commons
18. Ba
> Introduced: December 2013
Oxford dictionary definition: In ancient Egypt, the supposed soul of a person or god, which survived after death but had to be sustained with offerings of food. It was typically represented as a human-headed bird.
Or: The chemical element barium.
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
17. Ge
> Introduced: March 2012
Oxford dictionary definition: The chemical element germanium.
In Greek Mythology: another name for Gaia
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: Oleksii Spesyvtsev / iStock
16. Ringtone
> Introduced: January 2018
Oxford dictionary definition: A sound made by a mobile phone when an incoming call is received.
Source: sveta_zarzamora / Getty Images
15. Kombucha
> Introduced: June 2013
Oxford dictionary definition: A beverage produced by fermenting sweet tea with a culture of yeast and bacteria.
Origin: Japanese konbucha, literally ‘kelp tea’; the origin of the English meaning, which is not found in Japanese, is unclear and may reflect a development in another language.
[in-text-ad]
Source: JohnnyGreig / Getty Images
14. Eurostar
> Introduced: March 2008
Oxford dictionary definition: The high-speed passenger rail service that links London with various European cities via the Channel Tunnel.
ALSO READ: 50 Words People Get Wrong All the Time
Source: PhotoBylove / Getty Images
13. SSD
> Introduced: March 2013
Oxford dictionary definition: A storage device containing non-volatile flash memory, used in place of a hard disk because of its much greater speed.
Origin: 1980s: abbreviation of solid state drive or solid state disk.
Source: kapulya / Getty Images
12. Asana
> Introduced: September 2018
Oxford dictionary definition: A posture adopted in performing hatha yoga.
Origin: From Sanskrit āsana ‘seat, manner of sitting’.
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: Grassetto / Getty Images
11. Router
> Introduced: March 2011
Oxford dictionary definition: A power tool with a shaped cutter, used in carpentry for making grooves for joints, decorative mouldings, etc.
Or: A device which forwards data packets to the appropriate parts of a computer network.
Source: FrozenShutter / Getty Images
10. Disney
> Introduced: January 2018
Reminiscent of a film or theme park created by the Walt Disney Company, especially in being simplified, sanitized, or romanticized.
In North American Denoting: A non-custodial parent who, when spending time with their child or children, indulges them with gifts, special outings, and other treats, leaving disciplinary responsibilities to the custodial parent.
Origin: 1930s: from the name of Walter Elias Disney (see Disney, Walt).
[in-text-ad]
Source: kazatin / Getty Images
9. Hoverboard
> Introduced: September 2015
Oxford dictionary definition: (Chiefly in science fiction) a means of transport resembling a skateboard that travels above the surface of the ground, ridden in a standing position.
As trademark: A motorized personal vehicle consisting of a platform for the feet mounted on two wheels and controlled by the way the rider distributes their weight.
As a motorized personal vehicle consisting of a single central wheel with platforms for the feet on either side and controlled by the way the rider distributes their weight.
Origin: 1980s: from hover + -board (as in skateboard), popularized by the 1989 film Back to the Future Part II.
ALSO READ: 33 Words People Misuse All the Time
Source: Sergiodelgado / Wikimedia Commons
8. Ai
> Introduced: September 2012
Oxford dictionary definition: The three-toed sloth.
Origin: Early 17th century: from Tupi, imitative of its cry.
Source: SIphotography / iStock
7. Ee
> Introduced: June 2018
Oxford dictionary definition: Used to express a range of emotions including surprise, anger, disappointment, or joy, or when reacting to a remark’
Origin: Northern English form of oh.
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: papparaffie / iStock
6. XXX
> Introduced: September 2018
Oxford dictionary definition: The number equivalent to the product of three and ten; ten less than forty; 30.
Origin: Old English thrītig (see three, -ty). The spelling with initial thi- is recorded in literature in the 15th century, and has been the prevalent form since the 16th century.
Source: metamorworks / Getty Images
5. Broadband
> Introduced: September 2012
Oxford dictionary definition: A high-capacity transmission technique using a wide range of frequencies, which enables a large number of messages to be communicated simultaneously.
[in-text-ad]
Source: UberImages / iStock
4. Audible
> Introduced: June 2011
Oxford dictionary definition: Able to be heard.
In American Football: A change of playing tactics called by the quarterback at the line of scrimmage.
Origin: Late 15th century: from late Latin audibilis, from audire ‘hear’.
24/7 Wall St.
Australian Words and Phrases Americans Just Don’t Get
Source: fizkes / iStock
3. Oppo
> Introduced: June 2012
Oxford dictionary definition: A colleague or friend.
As a noun in the U.S.: short for opposition research
Origin: 1930s: abbreviation of opposite number.
Source: coffeekai / iStock
2. Facebook
> Introduced: June 2018
Oxford dictionary definition: Spend time using the social networking website Facebook.
Origin: Early 21st century: from Facebook, the proprietary name of the social networking website.
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: LightFieldStudios / iStock
1. Uber
> Introduced: June 2015
Oxford dictionary definition: As a combining form – Denoting an outstanding or supreme example of a particular kind of person or thing.
Origin: German über ‘over’, after Übermensch.
Methodology
To determine the most popular additions to the dictionary since 2008, 24/7 Tempo looked at over 8,000 new words. New subordinate entries and phases, as well as added new meanings to words already in the dictionary, were excluded. To approximate the popularity of each word, we used estimates of search frequency from Google’s Adwords keyword planner.
Homographs, such as “truck” and “shopping,” have also been excluded. They are spelled the same, but have different origin and meaning. Words that are being used as prefixes such as “digi-” have also been removed.
The list is based on the Oxford English Dictionary, but the definition of the words is taken from Oxford Dictionaries.
The following list is ranked in order from the word with the least Google impressions to the most. Due to the fact that some of the new words have several very different meanings, a few words ended up ranking high on the list, even though they were probably searched in terms of an informal definition that was not included in the Oxford dictionary.
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Start by taking this retirement quiz right here from SmartAsset that will match you with up to 3 financial advisors that serve your area and beyond in 5 minutes. Smart Asset is now matching over 50,000 people a month.
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Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.
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© 2024 24/7 Wall St.
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A RAPTIVE PARTNER
How many words are there in the English language? Trying to answer this question may take longer than actually getting a dictionary and counting them one by one. It depends on how you define “words” and whether you only count those still in use. The one indisputable fact is that English is growing.
The Oxford English Dictionary, widely considered the most authoritative record of the English language, adds anywhere between 500 and 1,500 new words or phrases — and sometimes even more — every March, June, September and December. This is a huge addition to an already rich language that has been estimatedto include about 1 million words.
The OED keeps a recordof over 1,000 years of English. It is a guide to the meaning, history, and pronunciation of 600,000 words — obsolete and current — from all countries that speak the language. Not all of these words will be familiar to Americans. Here are British words and phrases Americans just don’t get.
24/7 Tempo identified the most popular words that officially entered the English language over the last decade. We reviewed more than 8,000 new words in the Oxford English Dictionary, and approximated their popularity using Google AdWords keyword planner.
Click here to see the 50 most popular words that entered the dictionary in the last decade
Click here to see our full methodology
null
The average 20-year-old native speaker of American English knows 42,000 words, according to a study published in Frontiers in Psychology. He or she learns another 6,000 words between the ages of 20 and 60. This is about one word every two days. This is not a lot considering that about 4,000 words and phrases are added every year.
OED, however, is not the only Oxford dictionary. The Oxford dictionaries, which also include the Concise Oxford Dictionary, are created to describe how languages are changing, as opposed to dictate how they should be used. They look at data that tracks language use and context. A team of lexicographers, which includes a range of language experts, uses the data to determine words that should be prioritized for inclusion in the dictionary. As a result, some words are added again as they have come to mean something completely different. Here are words people misuse all the time.
Source: Louno_M / Getty Images
50. Matcha
> Introduced: June 2016
Oxford dictionary definition: Powdered green tea leaves, dissolved in hot water to make tea or used as a flavouring.
Origin: Japanese, from matsu ‘to rub’ + cha ‘tea’, from Chinese ( Mandarin dialect) chá (see tea).
Source: Artur / Getty Images
49. TGIF
> Introduced: 12/1/2018
Oxford dictionary definition: ‘Thank God it’s Friday!’; expressing relief, celebration, excitement, etc., that the working week is over and the weekend has begun.
Origin: Formed from the initials for the phrase ‘Thank God it’s Friday!’
24/7 Wall St.
50 Words People Get Wrong All the Time
Source: Alexander Koerner / Getty Images for Ethical Fashion Show Berlin
48. Jeggings
> Introduced: June 2015
Oxford dictionary definition: Tight-fitting stretch trousers for women, styled to resemble a pair of denim jeans.
Origin: Early 21st century: blend of jeans and leggings.
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: SomeMeans / Getty Images
47. Bralette
> Introduced: December 2016
Oxford dictionary definition: A tight-fitting crop top with thin straps.
In U.S.: An unlined bra without underwires or a clasp.
Origin: 1950s (with reference to a corset-like bra): from bra + -let.
Source: Sofia Zhuravets / Getty Images
46. Shapewear
> Introduced: December 2008
Oxford dictionary definition: Women’s tight-fitting underwear intended to control and shape the figure.
[in-text-ad]
Source: jacoblund / Getty Images
45. YouTuber
> Introduced: December 2016
Oxford dictionary definition: A person who uploads, produces, or appears in videos on the video-sharing website YouTube.
Origin: Early 21st century: from YouTube, the proprietary name of the video-sharing website.
24/7 Wall St.
33 Words People Misuse All the Time
Source: elnavegante / iStock
44. Intel
> Introduced: December 2010
Oxford dictionary definition: Information of military or political value.
Origin: 1960s: abbreviation of intelligence.
Source: pixelfit / Getty Images
43. LOL
> Introduced: March 2011
Oxford dictionary definition: Used to draw attention to a joke or amusing statement, or to express amusement.
Origin: 1980s: abbreviation of laughing out loud or laugh out loud.
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: Zephyr18 / Getty Images
42. Ransomware
> Introduced: January 2018
Oxford dictionary definition: A type of malicious software designed to block access to a computer system until a sum of money is paid.
Source: Jacob Wackerhausen / Getty Images
41. Ripple
> Introduced: June 2010
Oxford dictionary definition 1: A small wave or series of waves on the surface of water, especially as caused by a slight breeze or an object dropping into it.
Oxford dictionary definition 2: A type of ice cream with wavy lines of coloured flavoured syrup running through it.
As verb: (of water) form or flow with a series of small waves on the surface.
Origin: Late 17th century (as a verb): of unknown origin.
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Source: PeopleImages / Getty Images
40. Au pair
> Introduced: September 2013
Oxford dictionary definition: A young foreign person, typically a woman, who helps with housework or childcare in exchange for food, a room, and some pocket money.
Origin: Late 19th century: from French, literally ‘on equal terms’. The phrase was originally adjectival, describing an arrangement between two parties paid for by the exchange of mutual services; the noun usage dates from the 1960s.
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Source: Szepy / Getty Images
39. Skype
> Introduced: June 2014
Oxford dictionary definition: Have a spoken conversation with (someone) over the Internet using the software application Skype, typically also viewing by webcam.
Origin: Early 21st century: from Skype, the proprietary name of a software application and VoIP service.
Source: jacoblund / Getty Images
38. CrossFit
> Introduced: September 2018
Oxford dictionary definition: A high-intensity fitness programme incorporating elements from several sports and types of exercise.
Origin: Early 21st century: blend of cross training and fit.
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Source: fizkes / iStock
37. Smeg
> Introduced: June 2013
Oxford dictionary definition: Used as a mild expletive.
Origin: 1980s: origin uncertain, but often interpreted as a shortening of smegma; first used on the British television series Red Dwarf.
Source: vgajic / Getty Images
36. Webinar
> Introduced: December 2008
Oxford dictionary definition: A seminar conducted over the Internet.
Origin: 1990s: blend of web and seminar.
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Source: avdyachenko / Getty Images
35. Podcast
> Introduced: December 2008
Oxford dictionary origin: A digital audio file made available on the Internet for downloading to a computer or mobile device, typically available as a series, new instalments of which can be received by subscribers automatically.
As verb: Make (a digital audio file) available as a podcast.
Origin: Early 21st century: from iPod + broadcast.
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Source: egal / Getty Images
34. Spirulina
> Introduced: June 2012
Oxford dictionary definition: Filamentous cyanobacteria which form tangled masses in warm alkaline lakes in Africa and Central and South America.
Origin: Modern Latin, from spirula ‘small spiral (shell)’.
Source: b-d-s / iStock
33. Totes
> Introduced: June 2015
Oxford dictionary definition: Totally.
Origin: Early 21st century: alteration of totally.
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Source: AntonioGuillem / iStock
32. Bumble
> Introduced: September 2018
Oxford definition dictionary: Move or act in an awkward or confused manner.
Or to speak in a confused or indistinct way.
Or with adverbial (of an insect): buzz or hum.
Origin: Late Middle English (in the sense ‘hum, drone’): from boom + -le.
Source: nito100 / Getty Images
31. Sexting
> Introduced: June 2015
Oxford definition dictionary: A service forming part of the Divine Office of the Western Christian Church, traditionally said (or chanted) at the sixth hour of the day (i.e. noon).
Origin: Late Middle English: from Latin sexta (hora) ‘sixth (hour)’, from sextus ‘sixth’.
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Source: AndreyPopov / Getty Images
30. Crowdfunding
> Introduced: June 2015
Oxford definition dictionary: The practice of funding a project or venture by raising money from a large number of people who each contribute a relatively small amount, typically via the Internet.
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Source: gorodenkoff / Getty Images
29. Firewall
> Introduced: December 2015
Oxford definition dictionary: A wall or partition designed to inhibit or prevent the spread of fire.
In computing: A part of a computer system or network which is designed to block unauthorized access while permitting outward communication.
Another term for Chinese wall.
As verb: Protect (a network or system) from unauthorized access with a firewall.
Source: stuartmiles99 / Getty Images
28. Cyber-
> Introduced: December 2010
Oxford dictionary definition: Relating to or characteristic of the culture of computers, information technology, and virtual reality.
Origin: 1980s: abbreviation of cybernetics.
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Source: RJHeurung / Getty Images
27. Firebase
> Introduced: December 2015
Oxford dictionary definition: An area in a war zone in which artillery can be massed to provide heavy firepower to support other military units.
Source: egal / Getty Images
26. Brexit
> Introduced: December 2016
Oxford dictionary definition: The withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union.
Origin: 2012: blend of British (or Britain) and exit, probably on the pattern of Grexit (coined earlier in the same year).
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Source: diego_cervo / Getty Images
25. SMS
> Introduced: December 2009
Oxford dictionary definition: Short Message (or Messaging) Service, a system that enables mobile phone users to send and receive text messages.
As noun: A text message that is sent or received using SMS.
As verb: Send someone a text message using SMS.
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Source: PJPhoto69 / Getty Images
24. Cosplay
> Introduced: December 2008
Oxford dictionary definition: The practice of dressing up as a character from a film, book, or video game, especially one from the Japanese genres of manga or anime.
As verb: Engage in cosplay.
Origin: 1990s: blend of costume and play after Japanese kosupure, ultimately from English costume play.
Source: EkaterinaZakharova / Getty Images
23. CD
> Introduced: March 2012
Oxford dictionary definitions:
A compact disc.
Civil defence
Corps diplomatique (diplomatic corps)
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Source: ClaudioVentrella / Getty Images
22. Astro
> Introduced: March 2012
Oxford dictionary definition: Relating to the stars or celestial objects.
Origin: From Greek astron ‘star’.
Source: Spic / Getty Images
21. E-bike
> Introduced: June 2019
Oxford dictionary definition: An electric bicycle.
Origin: Formed from within English by combining e- with the noun bike.
Source: DMEPhotography / iStock
20. Stan
> Introduced: June 2018
Oxford dictionary definition: An overzealous or obsessive fan of a particular celebrity.
As verb: Be an overzealous or obsessive fan of a particular celebrity.
Origin: Early 21st century: probably with allusion to the 2000 song ‘Stan’ by the American rapper Eminem, about an obsessed fan.
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Source: AndreyPopov / iStock
19. ISA
> Introduced: September 2015
Oxford dictionary definition: (in the UK) an individual savings account, a scheme allowing individuals to hold cash, shares, and unit trusts free of tax on dividends, interest, and capital gains. In 1999 it replaced both personal equity plans (PEPs) and tax-exempt special savings accounts (TESSAs).
In computing: Industry standard architecture, a standard for connecting computers and their peripherals.
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Source: Jeff Dahl / Wikimedia Commons
18. Ba
> Introduced: December 2013
Oxford dictionary definition: In ancient Egypt, the supposed soul of a person or god, which survived after death but had to be sustained with offerings of food. It was typically represented as a human-headed bird.
Or: The chemical element barium.
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
17. Ge
> Introduced: March 2012
Oxford dictionary definition: The chemical element germanium.
In Greek Mythology: another name for Gaia
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Source: Oleksii Spesyvtsev / iStock
16. Ringtone
> Introduced: January 2018
Oxford dictionary definition: A sound made by a mobile phone when an incoming call is received.
Source: sveta_zarzamora / Getty Images
15. Kombucha
> Introduced: June 2013
Oxford dictionary definition: A beverage produced by fermenting sweet tea with a culture of yeast and bacteria.
Origin: Japanese konbucha, literally ‘kelp tea’; the origin of the English meaning, which is not found in Japanese, is unclear and may reflect a development in another language.
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Source: JohnnyGreig / Getty Images
14. Eurostar
> Introduced: March 2008
Oxford dictionary definition: The high-speed passenger rail service that links London with various European cities via the Channel Tunnel.
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Source: PhotoBylove / Getty Images
13. SSD
> Introduced: March 2013
Oxford dictionary definition: A storage device containing non-volatile flash memory, used in place of a hard disk because of its much greater speed.
Origin: 1980s: abbreviation of solid state drive or solid state disk.
Source: kapulya / Getty Images
12. Asana
> Introduced: September 2018
Oxford dictionary definition: A posture adopted in performing hatha yoga.
Origin: From Sanskrit āsana ‘seat, manner of sitting’.
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Source: Grassetto / Getty Images
11. Router
> Introduced: March 2011
Oxford dictionary definition: A power tool with a shaped cutter, used in carpentry for making grooves for joints, decorative mouldings, etc.
Or: A device which forwards data packets to the appropriate parts of a computer network.
Source: FrozenShutter / Getty Images
10. Disney
> Introduced: January 2018
Reminiscent of a film or theme park created by the Walt Disney Company, especially in being simplified, sanitized, or romanticized.
In North American Denoting: A non-custodial parent who, when spending time with their child or children, indulges them with gifts, special outings, and other treats, leaving disciplinary responsibilities to the custodial parent.
Origin: 1930s: from the name of Walter Elias Disney (see Disney, Walt).
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Source: kazatin / Getty Images
9. Hoverboard
> Introduced: September 2015
Oxford dictionary definition: (Chiefly in science fiction) a means of transport resembling a skateboard that travels above the surface of the ground, ridden in a standing position.
As trademark: A motorized personal vehicle consisting of a platform for the feet mounted on two wheels and controlled by the way the rider distributes their weight.
As a motorized personal vehicle consisting of a single central wheel with platforms for the feet on either side and controlled by the way the rider distributes their weight.
Origin: 1980s: from hover + -board (as in skateboard), popularized by the 1989 film Back to the Future Part II.
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Source: Sergiodelgado / Wikimedia Commons
8. Ai
> Introduced: September 2012
Oxford dictionary definition: The three-toed sloth.
Origin: Early 17th century: from Tupi, imitative of its cry.
Source: SIphotography / iStock
7. Ee
> Introduced: June 2018
Oxford dictionary definition: Used to express a range of emotions including surprise, anger, disappointment, or joy, or when reacting to a remark’
Origin: Northern English form of oh.
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Source: papparaffie / iStock
6. XXX
> Introduced: September 2018
Oxford dictionary definition: The number equivalent to the product of three and ten; ten less than forty; 30.
Origin: Old English thrītig (see three, -ty). The spelling with initial thi- is recorded in literature in the 15th century, and has been the prevalent form since the 16th century.
Source: metamorworks / Getty Images
5. Broadband
> Introduced: September 2012
Oxford dictionary definition: A high-capacity transmission technique using a wide range of frequencies, which enables a large number of messages to be communicated simultaneously.
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Source: UberImages / iStock
4. Audible
> Introduced: June 2011
Oxford dictionary definition: Able to be heard.
In American Football: A change of playing tactics called by the quarterback at the line of scrimmage.
Origin: Late 15th century: from late Latin audibilis, from audire ‘hear’.
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Source: fizkes / iStock
3. Oppo
> Introduced: June 2012
Oxford dictionary definition: A colleague or friend.
As a noun in the U.S.: short for opposition research
Origin: 1930s: abbreviation of opposite number.
Source: coffeekai / iStock
2. Facebook
> Introduced: June 2018
Oxford dictionary definition: Spend time using the social networking website Facebook.
Origin: Early 21st century: from Facebook, the proprietary name of the social networking website.
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Source: LightFieldStudios / iStock
1. Uber
> Introduced: June 2015
Oxford dictionary definition: As a combining form – Denoting an outstanding or supreme example of a particular kind of person or thing.
Origin: German über ‘over’, after Übermensch.
Methodology
To determine the most popular additions to the dictionary since 2008, 24/7 Tempo looked at over 8,000 new words. New subordinate entries and phases, as well as added new meanings to words already in the dictionary, were excluded. To approximate the popularity of each word, we used estimates of search frequency from Google’s Adwords keyword planner.
Homographs, such as “truck” and “shopping,” have also been excluded. They are spelled the same, but have different origin and meaning. Words that are being used as prefixes such as “digi-” have also been removed.
The list is based on the Oxford English Dictionary, but the definition of the words is taken from Oxford Dictionaries.
The following list is ranked in order from the word with the least Google impressions to the most. Due to the fact that some of the new words have several very different meanings, a few words ended up ranking high on the list, even though they were probably searched in terms of an informal definition that was not included in the Oxford dictionary.
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