The Cambridge Dictionary has expanded its online edition with 6,000 new entries over the past year, many inspired by TikTok trends and social media slang. Among the most notable additions are “skibidi,” “delulu,” and “tradwife.”
For those unfamiliar with Gen Z internet culture, some of the dictionary’s sample sentences may sound bewildering. Phrases like “that wasn’t very skibidi rizz of you” or “I’ve entered my delulu era” now officially have a place in Cambridge’s lexicon.
- Skibidi: Defined as “a word that can have different meanings such as ‘cool’ or ‘bad,’ or can be used with no real meaning as a joke.” The term gained traction through the surreal Skibidi Toilet YouTube series, where human heads emerge from toilets.
- Delulu: A shortened play on “delusional,” meaning “believing things that are not real or true, usually because you choose to.” It originated in K-pop fandoms about a decade ago, mocking overly obsessed fans, before spreading into mainstream culture. Its popularity skyrocketed earlier this year when Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese used it in parliament, joking, “they are delulu with no solulu.”
- Tradwife: Short for “traditional wife,” often used by influencers who idealize traditional gender roles.
- Broligarchy: A blend of “bro” and “oligarchy,” referencing groups of tech executives, notably linked to Donald Trump’s inauguration.
Cambridge also highlighted how existing words have evolved:
- “Snackable” now applies to short, easy-to-consume digital content, not just food.
- “Red flag” and “green flag” are widely recognized shorthand for negative and positive relationship traits.
Colin McIntosh, Cambridge’s lexical program manager, said the updates show how internet culture is reshaping English:
“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.”
With the rapid rise of TikTok lingo and memetic slang, the dictionary’s updates reflect just how quickly online trends are shaping modern English.