Redefining identity: Dictionary.com updates terms to reflect current times

By Serena Atkinson and Manasa Sriraj Oct. 15, 2020

Ivan Zhu Art

Dictionary.com’s September update features over 15,000 new words and revisions. Reflecting the shifting political and social landscapes of 2020, the majority of revisions concern mental health, race and gender identity. Not only is the update intended to reflect important current-day events, but also how ordinary people’s use of language adapts over time.

With the internet revolutionizing various aspects of everyday life, many have found it difficult to keep up with the ever-evolving lexicon of web language. To break this barrier, Dictionary.com added internet lingo to their database. New entries like “ish,” defined as somewhat, “nothingburger,” referencing a situation with no outcome and “G.O.A.T,” an acronym for “Greatest Of All Time” intend to familiarize the public with how people communicate over the internet.

Perhaps the most significant change was the company’s effort in differentiating between the two distinct definitions of “black.” With a capitalized letter “B,” the word “Black” now refers to members of the African-American race, while “black” refers to the color, or the condition of being dirty.

Nationwide Black Lives Matter protests have also led Dictionary.com to incorporate words relating to race, identity and culture to destigmatize certain words with a negative connotation. In an effort to encourage people to embrace their true identities, the dictionary’s editors focused on creating clear, standardized meanings for previously ambiguous words. Perhaps the most significant change was the company’s effort in differentiating between the two distinct definitions of “black.” With a capitalized letter “B,” the word “Black” now refers to members of the African-American race, while “black” refers to the color, or the condition of being dirty.

“Dictionary.com’s efforts are conducive to promoting inclusivity and awareness. In this diverse world especially, acknowledging specificities helps create safe spaces for everyone,” Junior Nitika Rao said.

When changing the language in reference to suicide and addiction, the dictionary’s editors avoided using the word “commit,” which has negative undertones associated with crime and sin. “Commit suicide” was replaced with with “die by suicide” and “end one’s life” while “addict” has become “a person addicted to” or “habitual user of.” According to John Kelly, a senior research editor at Dictionary.com, these changes were influenced by the recommendations of mental health professionals to destigmatize suicide and addiction. Rather than defining them by their situation, Kelly wanted to focus on the humanity of those affected by addiction and mental illness.

"...The update reveals that many of us may be subconsciously biased about certain issues because of unintentional suggestions in the media, and it is important for us to maintain awareness of these assumptions so we can respect others for who they are..."

Dictionary.com has also redefined many words relating to the LGBTQ+ community. According to the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, homosexuality was originally considered a mental illness. Similar to the capitalization of “Black,” Dictionary.com capitalized the word “Pride” in its latest update to reaffirm the LGBTQ+ community’s rights and celebrate their dignity. Throughout the site, terms like “homosexual” and “homosexuality” have been replaced with “gay,” “lesbian,” and “asexual” to acknowledge the distinct identities within the the LGBTQ+ community. The definition of “themself” was also updated to include its use by nonbinary or gender non-conforming people. Additionally, the words “Filipinx” and “Pinxy” were added to expand identification beyond the traditional “Filipino” (masculine) and “Filipina” (feminine) terminology for people from the Philippines, similar to how “Latinx” and “Chicanx” use a variable “x” to indicate gender-neutrality and inclusivity.

“This is a smart move by Dictionary.com—it is always a good idea to add on to existing definitions when changes are made to their meaning in society. The update reveals that many of us may be subconsciously biased about certain issues because of unintentional suggestions in the media, and it is important for us to maintain awareness of these assumptions so we can respect others for who they are,” Freshman Vijay Tirumalai said.

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About the Contributors

Serena Atkinson

Staff Writer

Serena is a senior and this is her third year as a staff writer. She likes the Clash, kitchen-sink drama films, and looking at birds that are in her backyard.

Manasa Sriraj

Staff Writer

Manasa Sriraj is a freshman at Leland High School and a first year staff writer for the Charger Account. She is a STEM, puzzle, and geography freak and loves torturing her friends by spamming and "Rickrolling" on group chats. Her hobbies include listening to music, playing basketball, composing guitar songs, experimenting with snack recipes, and building Rube Goldberg machines out of Legos and other regular household objects.