Merriam-Webster has added 1,400 new words and definitions to its online dictionary, bringing internet slang, AI terminology, food trends and modern lifestyle expressions into one of the world's most recognised English-language dictionaries. The latest additions include “vibe coding”, “AGI”, “parasocial”, “meme coin”, “looksmaxxing”, “yacht rock”, “cuffing season”, “Sunday scaries” and “Mandela Effect”.
Merriam-Webster described the update as “a glow-up to our iconic dictionary” in a blog post announcing the new entries.
The dictionary said the additions reflect how language has evolved across technology, social media, popular culture, food and everyday life. According to Merriam-Webster, “The new entries reflect words and meanings that have demonstrated widespread use over time, offering a window into the world today.”
Also Read: 'Vibe coding' named word of the year by Collins dictionary
Vibe coding, AGI and compute join Merriam-Webster
Technology and artificial intelligence account for some of the most notable additions to the latest dictionary update.
“Vibe coding” and “AGI”, short for artificial general intelligence, have been added to Merriam-Webster. The dictionary has also added “compute” as a noun, reflecting the growing use of the term for a computing resource sought by technology companies.
Another technology-related addition is “uncanny valley”, which describes the uncomfortable feeling that can arise when something artificial appears almost, but not quite, human.
Parasocial, looksmaxxing and meme coin reflect internet culture
The latest Merriam-Webster update also captures the language of social media and online communities.
“Looksmaxxing”, “parasocial”, “Rickroll”, “meme coin” and “promposal” are among the new entries.
“Parasocial” refers to a one-sided relationship or connection, while “looksmaxxing” is associated with attempts to improve one's physical appearance.
“Rickroll”, meanwhile, has become shorthand for a familiar internet prank involving an unexpected link to Rick Astley's song “Never Gonna Give You Up”.
The dictionary has also added a digital meaning for “letterboxing”, a word that already had a 19th-century meaning linked to a pastime.
From cuffing season to Sunday scaries, everyday life gets new words
Some of the additions describe relationships, emotions and behaviour.
“Cuffing season” refers to the time of year when people who are single or not in relationships start looking for a short-term romantic partner, particularly during colder months.
“Sunday scaries” and “crashout” are also among the new additions.
Other terms on the list include “whack-a-mole”, “yacht rock” and “California sober”.
The inclusion of “yacht rock” reflects the dictionary's expansion into popular culture, while “California sober” refers to a particular approach to substance use.
Cake pop, bao and chili crisp make the dictionary
Food is another major category in the latest Merriam-Webster update.
“Superfood” has been added to the dictionary and refers to a food rich in nutrients, with Merriam-Webster citing salmon, broccoli and blueberries as examples.
“Cake pop”, “shishito”, “bao” and “chili crisp” are also among the new entries.
Shishito refers to a slender, usually mild chilli pepper from East Asia, while bao and chili crisp have become familiar terms in food culture.
Copium, trash panda and Mandela Effect make the cut
Several of the additions are terms that have become popular through internet culture.
“Copium” has been added to the dictionary, along with “trash panda”, a nickname for a raccoon.
Merriam-Webster has also added “shapewear” and updated its definition of “neckbeard” to cover both the facial hair and the culture associated with the term.
The “Mandela Effect” is another addition. It refers to a situation in which a large number of people share the same false or inaccurate memory of an event, fact or detail.
Merriam-Webster's latest update therefore covers everything from artificial intelligence and cryptocurrencies to relationships, food and internet slang, showing how terms that emerge in online and popular culture can become part of established English usage.
Merriam-Webster's 2026 wordlist: New words and what they mean
| Word / term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| AGI | The potential capability of computer systems or algorithms to match or exceed human cognitive abilities such as reasoning and learning. |
| bao | A usually steamed, filled or unfilled bun or dumpling associated with Chinese cuisine. |
| California sober | Using marijuana and/or alcohol recreationally while abstaining from other drugs. |
| cake pop | A small cake formed into a ball, usually mounted on a stick and coated or decorated. |
| chili crisp | A spicy condiment containing chili peppers and crisp pieces of ingredients such as fried aromatics. |
| copium | Avoidance, denial or minimisation of a bad situation, problem or outcome, imagined as a narcotic. |
| crashout | A mental or emotional breakdown. |
| cuffing season | A period when people who are single or not in relationships seek short-term romantic partners during colder months. |
| compute | Computational resources, such as memory and processing power, required for a computer or program to function. |
| glow-up | A significant improvement in someone's appearance, style or overall presentation. |
| letterboxing | The technique of formatting recorded video so the full frame is shown within a screen with a different aspect ratio. |
| looksmaxxing | Taking measures, sometimes extreme or dangerous, intended to increase physical attractiveness. |
| Mandela Effect | A phenomenon in which many people collectively misremember a particular fact, event or detail in a consistent way. |
| meme coin | A cryptocurrency associated with an internet meme, joke or other online cultural phenomenon. |
| neckbeard | A beard that partially covers the area beneath the chin and throat; the term can also refer to a stereotype associated with people who have such facial hair. |
| parasocial | Relating to a one-sided emotional connection with someone, especially a celebrity or fictional character, whom the person does not know personally. |
| promposal | A creative and often elaborate request for someone to be a date for a prom. |
| Rickroll | To trick someone into hearing Rick Astley's song “Never Gonna Give You Up”. |
| shapewear | Tight-fitting undergarments designed to shape and smooth the body. |
| shishito | A slender, usually mild chilli pepper from East Asia. |
| Sunday scaries | Feelings of anxiety or sadness arising on Sunday because the weekend is almost over. |
| superfood | A food, such as salmon, broccoli or blueberries, that is rich in nutrients. |
| trash panda | A raccoon. |
| uncanny valley | A psychological effect involving unease or revulsion toward something that looks almost, but not perfectly, human. |
| vibe coding | Using an AI system to generate computer code in a particular programming language. |
| whack-a-mole | A situation in which a new problem appears as soon as a similar existing problem has been addressed. |
| yacht rock | A style of soft rock music originating in the 1970s and 1980s. |
