Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary Updates Lexicon with 'Adulting' and 'Side-eye'

Merriam-Webster has released a significant update to its Collegiate Dictionary, with the Twelfth Edition arriving on November 18, 2025. This revision marks the first major overhaul of the hard-copy reference volume in more than two decades, succeeding the 2003 edition. Peter Sokolowski, Editor at Large for Merriam-Webster, noted that the additions reflect contemporary language evolution, based on extensive data analysis conducted by the lexicographers.

The new printing incorporates more than 5,000 new words and an additional 1,000 new phrases and idioms, signaling a documentation of current American English vernacular. The selection of new entries captures linguistic trends influenced by digital communication and shifting social norms. Among the highlighted additions is 'adulting,' a noun that gained traction around 2013, often linked to the saturation of social media platforms. The inclusion of 'amirite,' functioning as a tag question, demonstrates language expansion driven by texting and rapid digital exchange, while 'dad joke' acknowledges a compound term that has permeated popular culture.

The update also integrates specific terminology addressing structural and phonetic nuances in English. The dictionary now features 'mediopassive,' a new linguistic term designed to describe a sentence structure where the subject receives the verb's action, exemplified by phrases like "The window opens easily." Furthermore, 'non-rhotic' has been added to define English accents where the /r/ sound is omitted before vowels or at the conclusion of words, offering a precise descriptor for phonetic variation.

Beyond social and structural language, the revision recognizes terms gaining cultural currency through media and specialized activities. 'Side-eye,' a sidelong glance conveying scorn or disapproval, is now formally recognized as a verb derived from a facial expression. The dictionary also documents 'petrichor (geosmin),' the formal term for the earthy scent following rainfall, and 'free solo,' describing rock climbing without safety equipment, a term whose recognition was bolstered by the 2018 documentary film *Free Solo*.

This Twelfth Edition represents a significant undertaking for the editorial team, integrating thousands of new lexical items to reflect language as it is actively used across various domains. The careful selection process ensures that only terms demonstrating sustained usage and cultural relevance earn a place alongside established vocabulary, serving as a crucial marker for documenting the linguistic landscape of the early 2020s.