Schools

WISN: Srsly? Merriam-Webster Adds New Words

Merriam-Webster Dictionary added a slew of new words, including slang, social media abbreviations, and a popular - and controversial - new dance.

The school year kicks off Tuesday and amid all that reading, writing and arithmetic, students will need to refer to a dictionary now and then.

Just in time for the new school year, Merriam-Webster Dictionary recently released the list of new words and definitions it added to its annual edition, according to our media partners at WISN 12 News. 

Slang and social media-speak are included in a big way, and parents will be pleased to note that so is Miley Cyrus' signature dance move, twerking (verb).

Other new entries:

  • derp, exclamation: used as a substitute for speech regarded as meaningless or stupid, or to comment on a stupid or foolish action.
  • selfie, noun: a photograph that one has taken of oneself, typically one taken with a smartphone or webcam and uploaded to a social media website.
  • SRSLY, adverb: short for seriously
  • food baby, noun: a protuding stomach caused by eating a large quantity of food and resembling that of a woman in the early stages of pregnancy.

Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

More from Caledonia