The English language, ever-evolving and often surprising, has just gotten a little more "skibidi." In a move that’s making waves both online and off, the Cambridge Dictionary announced on August 19, 2025, the addition of 6,212 new words, phrases, and meanings—many of which have their roots in the wild world of internet culture, social media, and the lives of Gen Z and Gen Alpha. Among the most talked-about entries are 'skibidi,' 'delulu,' 'tradwife,' 'lewk,' and 'broligarch,' each reflecting a unique facet of modern life and digital conversation.
It’s not every day that the dictionary—a bastion of linguistic tradition—embraces the quirky, the fleeting, and the viral. Yet, as Colin McIntosh, Lexical Programme Manager at Cambridge Dictionary, explained, "We only add words where we think they'll have staying power. Internet culture is changing the English language and the effect is fascinating to observe and capture in the Dictionary." According to VICE and ABC News, this year’s additions are a testament to just how much the digital age is shaping the words we use, and sometimes, the very way we think.
Take 'skibidi,' for example. Defined by Cambridge as a humorous slang adjective, it can mean "cool," "bad," or sometimes nothing at all. The word’s journey from obscurity to official recognition is a wild one: it was coined by the creator of the viral YouTube Shorts series "Skibidi Toilet," which first appeared in February 2023. The series, a surreal animated saga of toilets locked in bizarre battles, quickly captured the imagination of Gen Alpha—those born between 2010 and 2024, themselves now a dictionary entry. The phrase “What the skibidi are you doing?” or “That wasn’t very skibidi rizz of you” has become a way for young people (and those trying to keep up) to express everything from approval to playful confusion, or just to get a laugh.
But 'skibidi' isn’t the only internet-born term making headlines. 'Delulu,' a playful twist on "delusional," describes someone "believing things that are not real or true, usually because you choose to." It’s a word that’s been floating around social media for years, but only after a few viral videos did it gain widespread traction. Now, it’s sandwiched between "deluging" and "delusion" in the Cambridge Dictionary, a sign that our ways of expressing disbelief—or self-aware silliness—are evolving in real time.
Then there’s 'tradwife,' a portmanteau of "traditional wife," which has become a lightning rod for cultural debate. The term refers to a married woman, often on social media, who embraces homemaking and child care while reflecting a controversial return to traditional gender roles. The movement has found its queen in Hannah Neeleman of @ballerinafarm, who, with over 10 million Instagram followers, shares her life on a Utah farm with eight children, home-cooked meals, and beauty pageant crowns. As reported by Yahoo News, the rise of the 'tradwife' phenomenon has sparked conversations about feminism, family, and the power of online influence.
Other additions to the dictionary highlight the creative, and sometimes tongue-in-cheek, energy of internet language. 'Lewk,' a playful twist on "look," means a distinctive or bold style or outfit—often one that’s eye-catching or unusual. The word gained popularity thanks in part to RuPaul’s Drag Race and the vibrant communities of fashion journalism and social media. If someone’s outfit is particularly striking, they might be said to be serving a "lewk."
Some terms are even more niche, yet speak volumes about our changing habits. 'Mouse jiggler,' for instance, refers to a device or piece of software used to make it seem as though you’re working when you’re not—an invention born of the remote work era, where the green dot on Microsoft Teams has become a badge of productivity (or at least the appearance of it). As The Independent noted, the inclusion of such terms is a nod to the ways technology is not just shaping our work, but the very words we use to describe it.
And let’s not forget 'broligarch,' a blend of "bro" and "oligarch," describing a small group of extremely rich and powerful men, especially those in technology, who wield significant political influence. Think Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk, and Mark Zuckerberg—all names that conjure images of a new kind of power structure, one that’s as likely to trend on Twitter as it is to sway global markets.
Of course, not everyone is convinced that words like 'skibidi' have true staying power. As VICE pointed out, the annual influx of new dictionary entries can feel more like a marketing ploy than a linguistic milestone. “Sure, Gen Z kids will say Skibidi, but by Cambridge’s admission, it doesn’t have a meaning. Sometimes it means a good thing, other times it means a bad thing, but other times it means nothing at all because it’s more of a joke word used ironically in a way that feels like it’s commenting on its absurdity.” The skepticism is understandable—after all, some words fade as quickly as they arrive. But for now, at least, 'skibidi' has made the leap from meme to mainstream.
Still, the process behind these additions is more rigorous than it might appear. Colin McIntosh emphasized to the Associated Press that the Cambridge Dictionary only includes words it believes have "staying power." It’s a tricky balance: capturing the zeitgeist without cluttering the lexicon with passing fads. Yet, as McIntosh put it, "The impact of the internet on the English language is fascinating to observe and capture in the Dictionary." The annual update is a snapshot of our collective conversation, a record of the words that have, for better or worse, become part of our shared vocabulary.
The 2025 update isn’t just about slang. Among the new entries are terms like 'inspo' (short for inspiration), 'red flag,' 'green flag,' and even 'Gen Alpha.' Each reflects a different aspect of how we live, work, and relate to one another in an age where digital and real-life identities are increasingly intertwined.
So, what does it all mean? In the end, the addition of words like 'skibidi,' 'delulu,' and 'tradwife' to the Cambridge Dictionary is more than a quirky headline. It’s a sign that the boundaries between online and offline language are dissolving, and that the words we invent—sometimes in jest, sometimes in earnest—are shaping the way we see ourselves and each other. Whether these terms endure or fade, their inclusion marks a moment in time when the internet’s influence on English became impossible to ignore.
As the language keeps shifting, one thing’s for sure: the dictionary will be there, green dot glowing, ready to capture the next big lewk.
