‘Woo-woo.’ Yes, this is an actual word in the dictionary.

By Nairi Nakhapetian and Gwendolyn Kotsaftis

WOO-WOO (ADJ.) - Dubiously or outlandishly mystical, supernatural, or unscientific (merriam-webster.com). Woo-woo along with no less than 849 new words were added to the Merriam-Webster dictionary in March of 2018. And if you’re wondering, yes, these words are just as phenomenally woo-woo as our example. Here’s a few more:

BEST NEW WORDS ADDED TO THE DICTIONARY IN 2018

• MANSPLAIN (V.) to explain something in a manly fashion
• PHOTOBOMB (V.) to move into the frame of a photograph as it is being taken as a joke or prank
• SIDE-EYE (V.) a sidelong glance or gaze especially when expressing scorn, suspicion, disapproval, or veiled curiosity
• FACE-PALM (V.) to cover one’s face with the hand as an expression of embarrassment, dismay, or exasperation
• TRAIN WRECK (N.) an utter disaster or mess : a disastrous calamity or source of trouble
• THROW SHADE (V.) to express contempt or disrespect for someone publicly especially by subtle or indirect insults or criticisms
• WEAK SAUCE (N.) something inferior ineffective, or unimpressive : something weak
• AIRBALL (V.) to completely miss the basket, rim, and backboard with a shot: to shoot an air ball.
• BINGE-WATCH (V.) to watch many or all episodes of (a TV series) in rapid succession.
• CONLANG (N.) an invented language.
• FAST FASHION (N.) an approach to the design, creation, and marketing of clothing fashions that emphasizes making fashion trends quickly and cheaply available to consumers.
• FIRST WORLD PROBLEM (N.) a usually minor or trivial problem or annoyance experienced by people in relatively affluent or privileged circumstances especially as contrasted with problems of greater social significance facing people in poor and underdeveloped parts of the world.
• GHOST (V.) to abruptly cut off all contact with (someone, such as a former romantic partner) by no longer accepting or responding to phone calls, instant messages, etc.
• HUMBLEBRAG (V.) To make a seemingly modest, self-critical, or casual statement or reference that is meant to draw attention to one's admirable or impressive qualities or achievements.
• LISTICLE (N.) An article consisting of a series of items presented as a list.
• MICROAGGRESSION (N.) A comment or action that subtly and often unconsciously or unintentionally expresses a prejudiced attitude toward a member of a marginalized group (such as a racial minority).
• PING (N.) A signal sent from one computer to another across a network for usually diagnostic purposes (as to determine network speed or the status of the target computer).
• LIFE HACK (N.) a usually simple and clever tip or technique for accomplishing some familiar task more easily and efficiently

Coming Soon: We have also put together a video interviewing random students and staff, quizzing them to reveal their true fluency in this listicle of new words! We made up some words that aren’t in the dictionary and mixed them with the real, new words. Let’s see who is the true master of deciphering con-lang! Are you?

FAKE WORDS FOR QUIZ

• JOBFUSTICATE (V.) To arrange matters such that to other people your job appears to be so complex and technical that nobody else (least of all your boss) can understand exactly what it is you do, thus leaving you to do pretty much what you want they way you want to do it. It is not enough to simply have a job that your boss does not understand (in my experience this is very common). The word describes the process and effort of creating this situation from an otherwise fairly ordinary job. A combination of job and obfusticate. 
• FLUNGE (N.) A combination of the words “fluffy” and “sponge”.
• PAFFLING (V.) A cross between faffing about and prattling, like when someone's trying to delay telling you something, like my brother when he's broken something and doesn't want to tell my mum.
• MIDTERNAL (N.) In between “external” and “internal”.
• OBLIVIA (N.) That category of things which go unnoticed or have been easily forgotten.