- Bring some ‘rizz’ to your writing in the new year with some of these top new additions to your vocabulary
- ‘Star Wars’, ‘The Simpsons’ and YouTubers are now helping shape the English language
690 new words made their debut in the Merriam-Webster dictionary in 2023. Photo: ShutterstockWhat is a new English word you learned in 2023?
Last year, the American publisher Merriam-Webster introduced 690 new words to its dictionary, ranging from the fictional slang term “padawan” to refer to a Jedi apprentice to the “deadname” of transgender individuals.
Here is a recap of nine words added to the dictionary in 2023 that can help “zhuzh” up your writing in the new year.
Top 10: If you could only say one word for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Bingo card
Meaning: a list of possible, expected or likely scenarios
Example: Winning the lottery was surreal for Jason as having such a large sum of money had never been on his bingo card.
Cheffy
Meaning: relating to characteristics of a professional chef, such as showiness, complexity or exoticness
Example: Tucked away in the neighbourhood, the restaurant offers affordable cheffy dishes prepared by an expert cook with quality ingredients.
Cromulent
Meaning: acceptable or satisfactory. It was a fictional word first introduced in an episode of the American animated series “The Simpsons” in 1996. The word later took on a life in popular culture as a playful term describing something seemingly legitimate or acceptable that may be fictitious.
Example: The singer is perfectly cromulent with addictive pop tunes that appeal to a wider audience, but some critics question the depth and originality of the music.
Deadname
Meaning: the name that a transgender person was given at birth but no longer uses upon transitioning
Example: It is important to respect a person’s gender identity by using their chosen name instead of their deadname.
Elemental
Meaning: simple and uncomplicated; a basic component of something
Example: The book explores the elemental themes of love and loss, making it a touching read for those dealing with grief.
Goated
Meaning: considered to be the greatest of all time
Example: Roger Federer is so goated – he has skill, class, versatility and style.
Oxford University Press names ‘rizz’ word of the year
Padawan
Meaning: a young person regarded as naive or inexperienced. The word comes from the “Star Wars” franchise and refers to a Jedi apprentice who is being overseen by a Jedi master.
Example: As a young padawan in an action scene, James displayed great potential and quickly became a skilled stuntman.
Rizz
Meaning: romantic appeal or charm. Short for charisma, the slang term comes from Black culture. It was popularised on a wider scale by American YouTuber Kai Cenat in 2021.
Example: Taylor Swift’s performance on stage was full of rizz, captivating audiences with her irresistible charm.
Zhuzh
Meaning: a small improvement, adjustment, or addition that completes the overall look or taste of something
Example: During Christmas, Vivian added some festive decorations to zhuzh up the living room.