Merriam-Webster Revamps Dictionary with 5,000 New Words

Merriam-Webster has announced a significant update to its widely used dictionary, introducing over 5,000 new words in the upcoming 12th edition of the Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary. This new edition will be available on November 18, 2023, marking the first comprehensive update in 22 years. The decision comes amid declining print dictionary sales in the United States, as reported by Circana BookScan.

Among the newly added terms are “petrichor,” referring to the pleasant scent following a rainfall, “teraflop,” a measure of computer speed, and “ghost kitchen,” a term that gained popularity during the pandemic to describe commercial kitchen spaces for delivery-only food services. Other notable additions include “cold brew,” “farm-to-table,” and “cancel culture.”

The new edition aims to enhance user experience by providing more engaging entries and over 20,000 new usage examples. To accommodate the new words, Merriam-Webster removed sections from the previous edition that covered biographical and geographical entries, recognizing that users increasingly turn to the internet for such information.

Greg Barlow, president of Merriam-Webster, stated, “We wanted to make the ‘Collegiate’ more useful, a better design, more interesting. We wanted it to be more rewarding to browse, more fun to look through, and to really be practical for research.”

Despite the shift towards digital resources, the print dictionary remains relevant. The latest update weighs nearly 5 pounds and reflects a broader trend where adult reference book sales, including dictionaries, have seen annual declines since 2022. In the 12 months ending September 6, sales fell by 9% compared to the previous period. Nonetheless, Merriam-Webster continues to sell approximately 1.5 million dictionaries annually.

While print sales have declined, there have been signs of resurgence in certain areas. Barnes & Noble reported an increase in dictionary sales in 2023 compared to the same period in 2022. Kat Sarfas, marketing manager for nonfiction at the bookstore chain, noted, “There’s a certain desire to have these kinds of reference materials at home. It may be something that people feel like, as educated people, we should own.”

The enduring appeal of printed dictionaries extends beyond mere reference. They serve as cultural artifacts, gifts, and practical tools for students, particularly in environments where digital devices are restricted. Lindsay Rose Russell, executive director of the Dictionary Society of North America, emphasized the importance of print dictionaries in legitimizing languages, particularly for communities where languages have historically been suppressed.

Despite the challenges faced by print dictionaries, Merriam-Webster’s digital presence remains robust. The company’s website attracts around one billion visits annually, contributing to a nearly 500% growth in revenue over the past decade, driven by its online dictionary, thesaurus, and word games.

The new Collegiate Dictionary also introduces curated word lists and enhanced word histories. For instance, readers can learn that “calculate” derives from the Latin word for “pebble,” referencing the use of stones for arithmetic in ancient Rome. Additionally, the updated edition retains lettered thumb notches for easier browsing, a feature that had to be sourced from India due to the closure of the only U.S. printer capable of producing them.

As the landscape of language evolves, so too does the role of dictionaries. While some may argue that they are becoming obsolete, the love for books and the tactile experience of flipping through pages continue to resonate with many. As Barlow put it, “While the print dictionary is not at all important to the growth and profitability of this wonderful language company, it’s still our heart. There are people out there who just love books, and we love books.”