From ‘Vibe Coding’ to ‘Meme Coin’: New AI and Social Media Terms Added to the Dictionary

 From ‘Vibe Coding’ to ‘Meme Coin’: New AI and Social Media Terms Added to the Dictionary

Various terms and vocabulary related to Artificial Intelligence (AI) are now being incorporated into dictionaries. Previously confined to social media, the tech sector, and everyday casual conversation, these terms have seen such widespread usage recently that even prestigious dictionaries have begun to recognize them.

The online version of the renowned Merriam-Webster dictionary—a staple in American libraries and schools for decades—has added numerous new terms and phrases related to AI and technology. The latest additions to this dictionary, which evolved from a collection of words first published in 1806, were announced in September.

The new entries include terms such as ‘agentic’ and ‘natural language processing.’ Additionally, words rooted in the language used by social media users have also been included. According to experts, this latest list is particularly noteworthy due to the level of technical knowledge required to understand these terms.

“You can’t really explain what ‘vibe coding’ is if you don’t know what programming is,” Peter Sokolowski, a lexicographer at Merriam-Webster, told *Nature* magazine. His role involves defining and editing the terms included in the dictionary.

According to him, 21st-century digital communication has granted even non-experts easy access to highly technical terminology. Therefore, the complexity of the words recently added to the dictionary indicates that technical knowledge is expanding into everyday usage.

"More than any other list I’ve seen, this one feels like a commentary on language itself," said Sokolowski.

Terms Related to AI and Social Media

Merriam-Webster—a dictionary that evolved from a version first published in the early 19th century—has added numerous new technology-related terms. New additions concerning AI and computing include "agentic," "AGI" (Artificial General Intelligence), "compute" (used as a noun), "natural language processing," "prompt engineering," and "vibe coding."

Similarly, other technical terms such as "biohack," "direct air capture," "geoengineering," and "uncanny valley" have also been included in the dictionary.

Meanwhile, new terms related to social media culture include "looksmaxxing"; "parasocial" (referring to a one-sided social relationship); "Rickroll" (the act of tricking someone into listening to a song by English singer Rick Astley); and "meme coin" (a type of asset considered potentially risky for some investors). Similarly, the term "promposal" has been selected as a new entry, while "letterboxing"—a form of entertainment dating back to the 19th century—has been included in the dictionary with a new, digitally-oriented definition.

Complex Technical Terms

Lexicographer Sokolowski explains that before a word can be included in the Merriam-Webster dictionary, it must appear repeatedly in mainstream media outlets, such as newspapers and magazines.

A specialized team of "definers"—experts in fields like the physical and biological sciences—identifies terms for inclusion in the dictionary. They then conduct an in-depth analysis of how these terms are utilized within their respective technical domains. Based on this, they determine the precise meaning of the term and craft a definition that is accessible to the general reader.

Lera Boroditsky, a cognitive scientist at the University of California, San Diego, who studies language and cognition, notes that the rapid increase in complex technical terms is not surprising. According to her, technological and scientific innovations frequently drive changes in language. She suggests that the current pace of technological development is comparable to—or perhaps even faster than—that of the Industrial Revolution.

She further observes that the rapid evolution of technology is actively fueling the creation of new words. “As society becomes increasingly complex, we need to create words or terminology that encapsulate a great deal of meaning, so that we can discuss complex subjects without having to provide lengthy explanations,” she said.