Merriam-Webster's 'Time Traveler' Tool Reveals Words Added to Dictionary in Your Birth Year

Merriam-Webster has launched a "Time Traveler" tool that allows users to discover words added to its dictionary in the year they were born. The tool highlights how language evolves and reflects cultural shifts over time, showcasing terms that entered the lexicon in various decades.

Users can enter any birth year to see a list of words first recorded in print during that specific year. For example, 1980 saw the addition of terms such as "air guitar," "comb-over," and "home video." The turn of the millennium, around 2000, brought words like "climate change denial," "deep web," and "Google" into the dictionary. More recently, 2010 introduced "5G," "Galentine's Day," and "Instagram," while 2020 was characterized by pandemic-related terms including "Covid-19," "doomscroll," and "mask acne."

The "first known use" date signifies the earliest written or printed instance discovered by Merriam-Webster editors, not necessarily the absolute first time a word was used in spoken language. Many terms may have been in circulation for years before appearing in print.

The tool enables exploration of linguistic history spanning centuries, even allowing users to see words that first appeared during the eras of historical figures like William Shakespeare and Charles Darwin.

Some notable word additions by decade include:

• 1950s: "action figure," "anti-boss," "BLT," "LSD," "tank top"
• 1960s: "AAA battery," "acid reflux," "brain drain," "plant-based," "reality check"
• 1970s: "anxiety disorder," "contraceptive implant," "control freak," "erectile dysfunction," "X-rated"
• 1980s: "baby bump," "exfoliator," "fugly," "high five," "PTSD," "voicemail"
• 1990s: "bodycon," "console game," "gift card," "malware," "microplastic," "World Wide Web"
• 2000s: "e-book," "emotional support animal," "FaceTime," "side plank"
• 2010s: "body-shamer," "breadcrumbing," "orange wine," "polycule"
• 2020s: "Covid toes," "passenger princess," "physically distance"

The "Time Traveler" tool has gained traction online, with users sharing their birth year word lists on social media, often remarking on how the terms reflect their generational experiences and cultural moments.

The tool's popularity underscores a public interest in language and its connection to historical context and personal identity. This follows a trend of renewed interest in older expressions, as noted by recent research indicating a resurgence in the usage of traditional British idioms like "not my cup of tea" and "faff around."