dictionary

LAGOS/ABUJA – Ask a Nigerian what corrupt politicians do with public funds and he or she may say, “They chop it.” The Oxford English Dictionary agrees. Hailing from the streets of Nigeria, “to chop” – meaning to illicitly make money and...

The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) has added a big batch of Nigerian words to its new edition, in recognition of the way people from the African country have helped to shape the English language.

English Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur says it's unhappy that the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) has included an updated definition of the word "Yid" to include "a supporter of or player" of the club.

Because stupidity is contagious.

The coronavirus pandemic is dominating and impacting daily life around the world, prompting Dictionary.com to update its glossary and add new terms that are more relevant than ever amid the outbreak. New additions to the digital English language...

The names of several Obama-era officials involved in the “unmasking” of former Trump national security adviser Michael Flynn were declassified this week — but the obscure term sent many folks to the dictionary. Here’s what it means to...

Dr. Jacques Bailly is so accurate with words that he became the official pronouncer of the Scripps National Spelling Bee.

Kennedy Mitchum wasn't expecting much when she emailed Merriam-Webster last month, but she wanted to let the dictionary publisher know that she thought its definition of the word racism was inadequate.

Merriam-Webster Dictionary will be updating its definition of the word “racism” after a complaint from one Missouri woman, reports said on Tuesday. Kennedy Mitchum, 22, led the charge for the dictionary to rework its entry last month, following...

Kennedy Mitchum emailed Merriam-Webster Dictionary about including systemic oppression in the definition of racism. The dictionary's editor said they're working on changing the wording and adding context.

Merriam-Webster dictionary has changed “sexual preference” to be an “offensive” term — after Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett was accused of being “anti-LGBTQ” for saying it. Barrett was attacked Tuesday by Democratic Senator...

To play offense in the NFL in 2020, keep your playbook near a dictionary, a map of the United States and a list of baby names. COVID-19 restrictions mean no crowds at most games, no secrets on the field and no garbled quarterback pre-snap barking on...

Even the dictionary can be sexist and out of date, especially when it comes to how a "woman" is described.

The coronavirus pandemic has officially defined 2020. UK-based Collins Dictionary has announced “lockdown” as its word of the year, with other pandemic related words close behind. Defined as “the imposition of stringent restrictions on travel,...

The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) has been unable to name its traditional word of the year for 2020, instead exploring how far and how quickly the language has developed this year.

Merriam-Webster on Monday announced “pandemic” as its word of year. “That probably isn’t a big shock,” Peter Sokolowski, editor at large for Merriam-Webster, told The Associated Press. In its noun form, pandemic is defined by the dictionary...

You've probably heard the word near-daily since March. It's dominated nearly every corner of the world since. And there's no better word to sum up the unbelievable year that was 2020.

Learn if the wild story behind the first Oxford English Dictionary is true.