Language is alive. It stretches, bends, and morphs in response to social currents, technology, and cultural creativity. Slang words, those informal, often playful terms born on streets, in clubs, or online forums, serve as a linguistic barometer of our times.
Though once dismissed as ephemeral or “improper,” many have proven their staying power, earning space in the world’s most respected dictionaries.
This article highlights ten such slang words; once purely colloquial, now officially sanctioned, and explores what their journeys reveal about language evolution.
In a Nutshell
- Cultural Validation: Slang evolves organically and gains legitimacy when lexicographers document its usage across diverse contexts.
- Lexical Influence: Words like “selfie” and “brunch” reshaped everyday language, reflecting social trends and technological advances.
- Dictionary Criteria: To enter major dictionaries, a slang term must show sustained popularity, clear meaning, and widespread use in print and online media.
- Language Evolution: The inclusion of street-born words underscores how living languages adapt to cultural shifts and digital transformations.
“SlangWise Tip: Always observe how new words spread, through music, social media, or local scenes, before they claim a place in our dictionaries.”
1. Selfie
Selfie was first documented around 2002 in Australian internet forums, “selfie” exploded globally with the advent of front-facing smartphone cameras. By 2013, it dominated social media platforms, tagging millions of user-generated photos under #selfie.
Dictionary Entry: Merriam-Webster recognized “selfie” in 2013, defining it as “a photograph that one has taken of oneself.”
The Oxford English Dictionary followed suit, noting its digital-age significance and listing usage examples from Twitter and Instagram posts (“I took a beach selfie at sunset”). Learn More at Merriam-Webster
Beyond snapping solo portraits, “selfie” catalyzed discussions on digital identity, social validation, and even mental health, spawning variants like “groupie” (group selfie) and “shelfie” (photograph of one’s bookshelf).
2. Brunch
Combining “breakfast” and “lunch,” “brunch” emerged in 1895 when British writer Guy Beringer advocated for a lighter, sociable late-morning meal in his essay for Hunter’s Weekly.
However, it remained niche until the late 20th century, when urban dining culture embraced weekend gatherings.
Dictionary Entry: Both Merriam-Webster and the Oxford English Dictionary include “brunch,” with OED tracing print citations back to American newspapers in the 1930s. It’s defined as “a meal eaten in the late morning, typically combining a late breakfast and an early lunch.”
Brunch reshaped restaurant menus, spawned “bottomless brunch” specials, and inspired related portmanteaus like “brinner” (breakfast for dinner), demonstrating how a simple linguistic blend can signal cultural shifts in eating habits.
3. Blog
Originally “weblog” in 1997, coined by Jorn Barger to describe personal online journals, the term quickly shortened to “blog.” Early bloggers shared daily musings, news commentary, or niche interests, laying groundwork for today’s influencer economy.
Dictionary Entry: By 2004, “blog” appeared in major dictionaries. Merriam-Webster defines it as “to maintain or add content to a blog,” while OED catalogs “web log” and notes its evolution into a verb form (“to blog”).
The acceptance of “blog” marked a turning point in democratized publishing. It legitimized personal webpages as credible information sources and gave rise to microblogging platforms like Twitter.
4. Hangry
A playful blend of “hungry” and “angry,” “hangry” first appeared in print in 1918, but gained traction in the 2010s. Psychological studies even quantified the phenomenon, linking low blood sugar to irritability.
Dictionary Entry: In 2018, Merriam-Webster added “hangry,” defining it as “bad-tempered or irritable as a result of hunger.” It cited academic research and popular media usage (“Don’t talk to me before breakfast, I’m hangry”).
Hangry bridged colloquial speech and scientific discourse, entering clinical discussions on mood and nutrition. It also inspired marketing campaigns, from snack bars to hangry-proof meal kits.
5. Photobomb
Photobomb describes intentionally entering someone else’s photograph, often humorously. Coined in the mid-2000s, the term spread through viral videos and social media feeds.
Dictionary Entry: Oxford added “photobomb” in 2014, defining it as “to spoil a photograph by unexpectedly appearing in the camera’s field of view as the picture is taken, typically as a prank.”
The word encapsulates both a social behavior and a broader digital culture where spontaneity meets shareability. “Photobomb” remains a staple in online vernacular, with TV shows and ad campaigns riffing on the concept.
6. Emoji
Japanese artist Shigetaka Kurita created the first set of 176 pixelated pictograms for NTT DoCoMo’s mobile platform in 1999. With global smartphone adoption, “emoji” transcended text, offering visual shorthand for emotions and objects.
Dictionary Entry: Merriam-Webster recognized “emoji” in 2013, defining it as “a small digital image or icon used to express an idea, emotion, etc., in electronic communication.” OED echoes this, noting its Japanese origin (絵文字, “picture character”).
Emoji revolutionized digital communication, giving rise to entire subfields, emoji linguistics and cross-cultural studies on pictogram interpretation. It even influenced marketing, with brands designing custom emoji sets.
7. Bully
While “bully” as a verb dates to the late 16th century, its modern slang usage—meaning “to boss around”, shifted in the 20th century. In 2014, Oxford updated its entry to include “to do something with excellence,” as in “That performance was bullying!”
Dictionary Entry: OED and Merriam-Webster now list multiple senses, from traditional intimidation to positive slang. Oxford cites examples from sports journalism where “bully” conveys dominance (e.g., “She bullied her opponent on the mat”)
This duality highlights how context molds meaning. “Bully” underscores that slang can invert negative connotations into praise, illustrating language’s fluid moral compass.
8. YOLO
An acronym for “You Only Live Once,” “YOLO” broke into mainstream culture with Drake’s 2011 song “The Motto.” Instantly, it became a rallying cry for risk-taking and seizing the day.
Dictionary Entry:
Oxford added “YOLO” in 2016, defining it as “an expression used to encourage spontaneity or risk-taking.” The citation references online forums and Lin-Manuel Miranda’s tweets.
YOLO spawned countless memes, merchandise, and even travel campaigns. It epitomizes how music and social media can propel a phrase from lyrical hook to global slang staple.
9. Twerk
Rooted in New Orleans bounce music and African diasporic dance, “twerk” entered hip-hop culture in the early 1990s. Its mainstream surge came in 2013, when Miley Cyrus’s performance at the MTV VMAs made it impossible to ignore.
Dictionary Entry: Merriam-Webster included “twerk” in 2014, defining it as “to dance to popular music in a sexually provocative manner involving thrusting hip movements and a low, squatting stance.” Learn more at: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/twerk
Twerk spotlighted intersections of race, gender, and cultural appropriation debates. Its dictionary entry acknowledges both its dance origins and broader social resonance.
10. Binge-watch
As streaming services released entire seasons at once, viewers adopted “binge-watch” to describe marathon viewing sessions. First attested online around 2007, it gained momentum with Netflix’s original series launch in 2013.
Dictionary Entry:
Oxford added “binge-watch” in 2018, defining it as “to watch multiple episodes of (a television program) in rapid succession.”
Beyond television, “binge-watch” shaped content creation and distribution strategies. It influenced release models, viewer analytics, and even led to new genre labels like “bingeable content.”
Why These Inclusions Matter
- Reflecting Social Trends: Each word captures a moment—technological innovation (“selfie,” “emoji”), lifestyle shifts (“brunch,” “binge-watch”), or cultural phenomena (“twerk,” “YOLO”).
- Standardizing Speech: Dictionary codification stabilizes meanings, guiding educators, translators, and language learners.
- Cultural Legitimacy: Street-born terms entering scholarly references validate grassroots creativity, bridging vernacular and formal language.
- Adaptive Language: The process underscores that language is not static; it evolves as communities innovate, migrate, and interact in digital and physical spaces.
How a Slang Word Makes It “Official”
- Widespread Usage: Lexicographers monitor print, broadcast, and digital media. Terms must appear in varied contexts over time.
- Clear Definition: The word’s meaning should be consistent and comprehensible across users.
- Longevity: Short-lived fads seldom qualify; sustained use over years is key.
- Citation Evidence: Entry inclusion relies on documented examples—from newspaper headlines to social media hashtags.
These criteria ensure that dictionaries serve as reliable mirrors of living language, documenting what speakers actually say.
Conclusion
From humble street origins to shelves of scholarly tomes, slang words chart fascinating paths into our dictionaries. Each entry is a testament to human creativity, social connectivity, and the relentless evolution of language.
As technology accelerates communication, and subcultures pop up in every corner of the globe, who knows which next term will earn its place in the lexicon? Watching these trends unfold offers a front-row seat to linguistic history in action.
