1,700 Words Added To Merriam-Webster 2015 Dictionary, Including ‘WTF,’ ‘Photobomb’ And ‘Emoji’

Merriam-Webster Dictionary has upped its word bank with a whopping batch of 1,700 new words, ranging from the inclusion of the animal kingdom’s “colossal squid” to everyone’s least favorite selfie distraction, a “photobomb.” Some previous entries have expanded to include 700 new interpretations. Plus, the online dictionary has added 3,200 examples of word usage. Another 200 of the most looked up words have been added.

Last year’s 150 word additions included “hashtag,” “crowdfund” and “selfie.” By comparison, this year’s “photobomb” is just a mere drop in the 2015 bucket of well over a thousand added words and phrases.

Yet the 1,700 new words in the Merriam-Webster Dictionary represent just a fraction of the 6,500 words added to the Scrabble dictionary last week. This year’s extraordinarily large number was perhaps due to the technology-driven slang that has exploded in recent years.

In addition to photobomb and colossal squid, here are a few other new Merriam-Webster Dictionary words now available for play at your next word game:

Net Neutrality
First used in 2003, this politically charged term mandates that all Internet data is treated equally, no matter the source or destination.

Click Fraud
That sinking feeling when an ad or article forces you to click through multiple times; it may be a scheme first named in 2004 as a means to earn more ad revenue.

Sharing Economy
Although it predates the recession by a year, this term describes a system in which individuals selling temporary access to goods or services. Merriam-Webster notes this is usually done “though an online company or organization” like Airbnb.

Emoji
The 1997 word to describe small pictures or icons used to represent the writer’s emotions. Or that thing you can’t see on your phone because you haven’t updated in a while.

Meme
Much wow at this simplistic definition: an amusing or interesting item or genre of items that is spread widely online especially through social media.

Jegging
Leggings that look like jeans -- brilliant! They’ve become so popular since 2009, the term is now here to stay.

NSFW
You probably shouldn’t open a page labeled “not safe for work” in the office.

WTF
Yet another popular abbreviation you shouldn’t say at work is spelled out at the Merriam-Webster website.