In a rare and noteworthy move, Merriam-Webster has announced a comprehensive revision of one of its most popular dictionaries.
The 12th edition of "Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary" introduces over 5,000 new words, including "petrichor," "teraflop," "dumbphone," and "ghost kitchen." This significant update comes 22 years after the last hard-copy revision and amidst a general decline in U.S. sales for traditional dictionaries, as reported by Circana BookScan.
The new edition is set to be released on November 18, with preorders currently open.
The new words added to the dictionary reflect the evolving nature of language and society. "Petrichor," for instance, describes the pleasant smell that often follows rainfall after a warm, dry period. "Teraflop" is a unit of measurement used to calculate the speed of a computer. "Dumbphones" refer to the mobile devices that were in use before the advent of smartphones.
"Ghost kitchens," a term that gained prominence during the pandemic, refer to commercial spaces available for hire. Other additions include "cold brew," "farm-to-table," "rizz," "dad bod," "hard pass," "adulting," and "cancel culture," among others.
According to Greg Barlow, Merriam-Webster's president, the dictionary has been redesigned to be more useful, interesting, and aesthetically pleasing. "We wanted it to be more rewarding to browse, more fun to look through, and to really be practical for research, but also a beautiful book," Barlow said.
The updated "Collegiate" edition, with its linen cover, weighs nearly five pounds.
Despite the decline in sales for print dictionaries, Barlow maintains that they still hold a special place in the company. "While the print dictionary is not at all important to the growth and profitability of this wonderful language company, its still our heart," he said.
"There are people out there who just love books, and we love books."
Interestingly, Barnes & Noble has reported an increase in dictionary sales this year compared to the same period in 2024. Kat Sarfas, the marketing manager for nonfiction at Barnes & Noble, believes that people still value the experience of physically looking up a word in a dictionary.
"There's a certain desire to have these kinds of reference materials at home. It may be something that people feel like, as educated people, we should own," Sarfas said.
Despite the rise of the internet and digital resources, print dictionaries still hold cultural and practical significance. They serve as a testament to the evolution of language, a tool for students in schools with cellphone bans, and a cherished gift for many.
Lindsay Rose Russell, executive director of the Dictionary Society of North America, emphasized the importance of print dictionaries in legitimizing languages, particularly those of Indigenous communities across North America.
The new "Collegiate" edition also introduces curated word lists, such as words from the 1990s, and more word histories. For instance, did you know that the word "calculate" comes from the Latin for "pebble," as ancient Romans used little stones for addition and subtraction?
While the digital age has undoubtedly transformed the way we access and use dictionaries, the enduring appeal of print dictionaries is a testament to our collective love for language and books. As we continue to navigate the digital landscape,
it's comforting to know that some traditions, like the joy of flipping through a physical dictionary, remain intact.
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