New Words

F-bomb, Sexting Added to Dictionary

In Merriam-Webster’s latest edition.

Make no freakin’ mistake about it: the phrases “f-bomb“ and “sexting” are here to stay. Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, the world’s leading dictionary, has finally added the term “f-bomb” to its pages, along with sexting, flexitarian, obesogenic, energy drink, and life coach. The term first showed up in newspapers more than 20 years ago, but is showing up in the dictionary for the first time on Tuesday. Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate gets an overhaul every decade, but also receives smaller upgrades every year. Oxford University Press, another dictionary publisher, is also considering adding f-bomb in a future update.