The English language, ever-evolving and quick to absorb the pulse of modern life, has just taken another leap into the digital age. On August 18, 2025, the Cambridge Dictionary announced the addition of over 6,000 new words to its digital edition, a move that underscores just how deeply social media and internet culture are reshaping the words we use every day. Among the most eye-catching newcomers? Slang terms like "skibidi," "delulu," and "tradwife," all of which have roots in viral trends and online communities.
Colin McIntosh, the Cambridge Dictionary’s lexical programme manager, summed up the phenomenon, telling BBC, "Internet culture is changing the English language and the effect is fascinating to observe and capture in the dictionary." He added, "We only add words where we think they'll have staying power." That’s not just idle talk—the dictionary’s editorial team draws from the Cambridge English Corpus, a vast database containing over two billion words of written and spoken English, to gauge how new terms are used, how frequently, and in what contexts. If a word is fleeting, it doesn’t make the cut. But if it seems destined to stick around, it earns a coveted spot in the world’s largest online dictionary.
Perhaps the most whimsical of the new entries is "skibidi." Popularized by the viral YouTube series Skibidi Toilet, this gibberish word is remarkably flexible. According to BBC and The Independent, "skibidi" can mean something positive, negative, cool, or just plain weird. Sometimes, it has no meaning at all—it functions as a shared joke, a playful sound that brings people together online. The dictionary defines it as "a word that can have different meanings such as 'cool' or 'bad', or can be used with no real meaning as a joke." One example of its use: "What the skibidi are you doing?"
Its cultural reach extends beyond YouTube. Kim Kardashian, ever attuned to what’s trending, posted a video on Instagram showing off a necklace engraved with "skibidi toilet," a birthday gift from her daughter North West. The phrase has even entered the lexicon of Gen Alpha—those born roughly between 2010 and 2024—with playful phrases like "That wasn’t very skibidi rizz of you" making their way into everyday conversation, as reported by Sky News.
Another term that’s found its way into the dictionary is "delulu," a playful shortening of "delusional." On platforms like TikTok and X (formerly Twitter), "delulu" is used ironically, often to poke fun at oneself or others for believing in things that are obviously not real. The term gained mainstream attention when Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese used the phrase "delulu with no solulu" (delusional with no solution) during a 2025 parliamentary speech, a moment that was widely shared and memed online. The dictionary defines "delulu" as "believing things that are not real or true, usually because you choose to." It’s a nod to the self-aware, tongue-in-cheek humor that defines much of today’s internet culture.
"Tradwife" is another notable addition. Short for "traditional wife," it refers to a married woman who embraces traditional gender roles—staying at home, cooking, cleaning, and caring for children. But there’s a modern twist: many "tradwives" share their lifestyles on social media, turning what was once a private choice into a public persona. Influencers like Hannah Needleman, known as the "queen of tradwifery" with over 10 million followers, have brought the trend into the spotlight, sparking both admiration and controversy. As Sky News notes, the trend is particularly popular on Instagram and TikTok, where debates about gender roles, feminism, and family life play out in real time.
The dictionary’s latest update doesn’t stop at slang. It also includes terms that reflect changes in work and technology. "Mouse jiggler," for instance, is a device or software that simulates mouse movement, preventing a computer from going into sleep mode—a tool that’s become more relevant with the rise of remote work since the pandemic. The term "work wife" (or "work spouse") has also made the cut, describing close workplace relationships where two colleagues, regardless of gender, help and trust each other—a recognition of the way professional and personal lives can intertwine.
Some of the new words are clever blends of existing terms. "Broligarchy," for example, merges "bro" and "oligarchy" to describe a small group of men, especially those in tech, who are extremely rich, powerful, and sometimes politically influential. The term was notably used to describe tech titans Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk, and Mark Zuckerberg attending Donald Trump’s inauguration in January 2025. As BBC explained, "broligarchy" captures the intersection of wealth, technology, and power in a single, punchy word.
Fashion and inspiration have also found their way into the dictionary. "Lewk," a playful take on the word "look," refers to a particular style or outfit, especially one that’s unusual and impressive—a term popularized by the reality TV show RuPaul’s Drag Race. "Inspo," short for inspiration, is used to describe something that sparks creativity, often in the context of social media trends. Fitness influencer Alaya F, for instance, started an "inspo" trend by recommending headstands on paddleboards in the middle of rivers, as highlighted by Sky News.
Other additions reflect broader societal concerns. "Forever chemical," a term related to climate change and environmental health, refers to substances that persist in the environment and accumulate over time, posing long-term risks. The dictionary’s willingness to include such terms signals its commitment to capturing not just the fun and frivolous, but also the serious and urgent issues of our age.
So, what does it all mean for the future of English? If the past year is any indication, the language will continue to evolve at breakneck speed, shaped by memes, influencers, and the shifting tides of digital culture. As Colin McIntosh put it, "It’s not every day you get to see words like ‘skibidi’ and ‘delulu’ make their way into the Cambridge Dictionary. We only add words where we think they’ll have staying power." In other words, today’s online jokes could well become tomorrow’s linguistic landmarks.
For anyone who’s ever wondered whether their favorite online catchphrase might one day be immortalized in the dictionary, the answer is increasingly: why not? The line between digital slang and official language is blurrier than ever, and the Cambridge Dictionary’s latest update is proof that the words we type, tweet, and meme can—and do—become part of our shared vocabulary.
