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Words Matter

New Dictionary Words for 2011

'Cougar,' 'Crowdsourcing,' 'Bromance' & more — the latest additions to America's best-selling dictionary.


'Cougar,' 'Crowdsourcing,' 'Bromance' & more — the latest additions to America's best-selling dictionary.

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play video new words for 2011
New Dictionary Words for 2011

 

'Cougar,' 'Crowdsourcing,' 'Bromance' & more — the latest additions to America's best-selling dictionary.

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The True Story of the Backward Index

 

These people needed a computer

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Why is there a 'd' in 'fridge' but not in 'refrigerator'?

 

Thawing one of the mysteries of English

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Some Odd Words with ISMO: "People Tipping"

 

Comedian ISMO on the complexities of the word 'tip'

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When Body Parts Are Also Verbs

 

Head, shoulders, metaphors, and toes

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How a Word Gets into the Dictionary

 

What our editors are looking for when they enter words in Merriam-Webster.

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What Is an Eggcorn?

 

And how did it get that name?