Gen Z slang invades Dictionary.com for another year: ‘Bed rotting,’ ‘girl dinner,’ ‘boobne’ and more
Perhaps someone should throw the book at Dictionary.com.
The word-defining platform recently announced it would be adding several Gen-Z slang words and terms to help lovers of the English language “span the galaxy of modern life.”
“It’s 2024, and the pace of language change is as rapid as it has ever been,” the website declared.
“Our lexicographers are updating the dictionary more frequently than ever, doing the human-scale work of documenting words across the vast spectrum of the always-evolving English language.”
That dedication to verbiage includes phrases that refer to sweaty breasts, staying excessively in bed, a hip food trend from female TikTokers and a term related to the ever-popular doll and movie “Barbie.”
In other words, those “that have emerged to name the nuances of modern life.”
These are but some of the website’s 327 new entries.
The ick
A phrase to describe an individual’s distaste towards another person or entity. Example: This list gives some people the ick.
Mid
Gen Z slang to suggest mediocrity or something that is “unimpressive” or “disappointing.”
Bussin’
A synonym for feeling “great,” “amazing” or “wonderful” — which can also be achieved by learning previously established words.
Boobne
Pimples or acne on the breast that come as a result of sweat and bra chafing. Not to be confused with the fashion-forward trend of “underboob” exposure.
Greedflation
The young generation, which needs therapists to help Gen Zers cope with doing taxes, created the term to lay the blame of stark, sky-high prices for consumer goods and living expenses on private sector greediness, rather than “market pressure” of the many global factors at play, in addition to a layoff-impaled domestic economy.
Sound bath
A sound bath is listening to a bevy of bells and chimes for aural therapy and mental well-being. It’s a contrast to young people embracing the concept of walking without headphones and taking in the cacophony of the big city.
Bechdel test
A measure used to chart the representation of female presence in works of fiction, documenting whether a work “includes at least two fairly important female characters who talk to each other about something besides a man.” The concept was initially established in 1985 by cartoonist Alison Bechdel in her comic strip “Dykes to Watch Out For.”
Barbiecore
This would score high on the Bechdel test.
It denotes the surge of Barbie culture and all that is pink, which was inspired by the Margot Robbie-starring summer 2023 blockbuster, based on the iconic Mattel doll. The concept includes but is not limited to: outfits, decor, accessories, hair bleaching and plastic surgery choices.
Bed rotting
Spending an excessive amount of time in bed. Also known as “hurkle-durkle” in Scotland.
Skiplagging
When travelers who face layovers instead stay at their mid-flight stop rather than move on to their final destination. It’s become a common, savvy tactic — though derided by airlines — to save money on airfare.
Girl dinner
A viral TikTok term for low-effort, odd assortments of greedflated foods and groceries cobbled together as a last-ditch meal.
