The best about dictionaries is not that they teem with words, but it is that they welcome new words oh so often! Every word lover who cannot get enough of building their vocabulary sure loves these updates. In this lesson, we shall be catering to exactly such people. It contains 8 updates in the Oxford Dictionary in the months of March and April this year. It wouldn’t be much of a surprise to find a few of them relating to the coronavirus.

What we should also tell you is that, not just are these words new, but also trending among people. So it is indeed a paradise for those who wish to remain caught up with the vocabulary world all the time! Let’s jump right to the good part!

New Words Added to the Oxford Dictionary

March & April- 2020

1. Infodemic

The first word we will learn about today from Oxford Dictionary’s latest additions is Infodemic. It is a noun.

Definition: A proliferation of diverse, often unsubstantiated information relating to a crisis, controversy, or event, which disseminates rapidly and uncontrollably through news, online, and social media, and is regarded as intensifying public speculation or anxiety.

Example Sentence: Join top CEOs to explore which risks are most susceptible to infodemics and, together, develop new strategies in reputation risk management.

2. Pronoid

Also a noun, this term is yet another one that you must add to your existing glossary.

Definition: A person who is convinced of the goodwill of others towards himself or herself, or of the pervasiveness of serendipity, esp. to an extent viewed as irrational.

Example Sentence: In the 1997 movie ” Fierce Creatures “, Jamie Lee Curtis’s character describes Kevin Kline’s character as excessively pronoid.

3. Social Distancing

We all have heard about this word, and heard it enough! So much, that it found a place in the Oxford Dictionary.

Definition: The action or practice of maintaining a degree of remoteness or emotional separation from another person or social group.

Example Sentence: Those who haven’t followed the social distancing norm have received notices from the ward member of this area for an explanation. 

4. Coulrophobia

A large group of people would have heard about the word, but not directly. It relates to yet another of the human phobias.

Definition: Extreme or irrational fear of clowns.

Example Sentence: It should be noted that this author does ” not ” have coulrophobia, but simply a strong dislike of clowns.

Much more relatable now, isn’t it? The term is a Noun.

5. Elbow Bump

Elbow bump is not entirely a new word but is an addition to an unrevised existing word. It is also a noun, like the many others on our list in this lesson.

Definition: A blow with or to the elbow; an injury resulting from this;  (b) a gesture (usually of greeting or farewell) in which two people lightly tap their elbows together as an alternative to a handshake or embrace, esp. in order to reduce the risk of spreading or catching an infectious disease.

Example Sentence: He greeted all his guests with the ” Flip Wilson Handshake, “: four-hand slaps, two elbow bumps finishing with two hip-bumps.

6. Anergy

Here is another noun from the Oxford Dictionary’s latest additions which comes from the field of psychology.

Definition: Loss or lack of mental or physical energy, esp. as manifested in inactivity or disinclination to act. Another meaning of the word is –Immunology. Failure or impairment of an immune response.

Example Sentence: This article introduces its characteristics, working principle, structure type, and saving anergy effect.

7. Tivertine

Tivertine is a noun which belongs to the construction field. It comes from an Italian word.

Definition: A white or light-colored concretionary limestone used in building, formed by the precipitation of calcium carbonate from springs, or from ground or surface water; = travertine n.   More fully Tivertine stone.

Example Sentence: This building on your left is a marvelous piece of architecture built with the finest quality of tivertine. 

8. Deleverage

At the end of this list, we have for you a verb which can come in much use in the near future.

Definition: To take measures to clear (a company, industry, sector, balance sheet, etc.) of debt held as a proportion of equity, in order to limit financial risk.

Example Sentence: At that point, debtors will face strong pressures from their creditors to deleverage, slashing their spending in an effort to pay down debt

Surely, this list contains some difficult words which could take time for us to retain. But with enough practice, we are sure that we will manage to stay updated with the Oxford Dictionary, and its significant updates!

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