The English language just got a whole lot bigger — and trendier. The Cambridge Dictionary, the world’s most popular online resource for English learners, has added more than 6,000 new words, phrases and meanings over the past year, reflecting the rapid influence of internet culture, social media and global events.
Among the most notable additions are:
- Skibidi – a slang term with multiple meanings, from “cool” to “bad,” or sometimes simply used as a joke. The word stems from the viral Skibidi Toilet YouTube series and has since been popularised by Gen Alpha — itself a new dictionary entry for those born in the 2010s. Even Kim Kardashian has embraced it, sharing a “Skibidi Toilet” necklace gifted by her daughter.
- Delulu – short for delusional, meaning believing things that are not true, often by choice. The term went mainstream in March when Prime Minister Anthony Albanese used the phrase “delulu with no solulu” in Parliament.
- Lewk – a playful twist on “look,” used in fashion journalism and pop culture to describe a bold or memorable style. Popularised by RuPaul’s Drag Race.
- Tradwife – shorthand for “traditional wife,” describing women who embrace old-fashioned gender roles, often celebrated (and debated) on Instagram and TikTok. Hannah Neeleman of @BallerinaFarm has become a central figure in the trend, while actress Millie Bobby Brown recently attracted the label after marrying young and embracing farm life.
- Broligarchy – a blend of “bro” and “oligarchy,” referring to ultra-rich tech moguls seeking political influence. The term gained traction after Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg appeared together at Donald Trump’s 2025 inauguration.
- Inspo – short for inspiration, especially as used online for fashion, fitness and lifestyle trends.
The Koala can personally hear “Delulu” being used by his 10-year-old daughter!
Other additions reflect shifting cultural trends, from the rise of remote work — mouse jiggler (a device to fake computer activity) — to growing environmental awareness, with terms like forever chemical and RAAC (Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete) now officially recognised.
The dictionary also updated popular relationship terms like red flag and green flag, widely used on social media to describe partner traits, alongside workplace-inspired phrases like work wife and work spouse.
Colin McIntosh, Lexical Programme Manager at Cambridge Dictionary, said the update reflects the ever-changing nature of English:
“It’s not every day you get to see words like skibidi and delulu make their way into the Cambridge Dictionary. We only add words where we think they’ll have staying power. Internet culture is changing the English language and the effect is fascinating to observe and capture.”
With 6,212 new entries this year alone, Cambridge continues to solidify its reputation as one of the fastest-growing dictionaries in the world — capturing not just language, but the culture that drives it.
