NATIONWIDE — Dictionary.com released news of a sweeping update to its entries in an effort to keep up with the social and political climate.

What You Need To Know

  • Dictionary.com released its biggest-ever update on September 1

  • The changes include 650 new entries, 2,100 new definitions, 1,200 new etymologies, 1,700 new pronunciations, over 11,000 revised definitions, and over 7,000 revised etymologies

  • The updates reflect the dictionary’s decision to “put people, not practices” first

The popular search engine edited over “15,000 entries updated on topics ranging from race and sexual orientation to climate and internet culture,” according to a press release. The update is the company’s biggest overhaul to date. 

The changes include 650 added words, over 13,000 new or revised definitions, and 1,700 new pronunciations. 

A statement on Dictionary.com said the revisions are an attempt to reflect the “unprecedented events of 2020,” which in turn shape the language we use. 

“COVID-19 rapidly introduced an array of new and newly prominent technical terms to our everyday vocabularies, including asymptomatic, viral load, and social distance,” a statement on the organization’s website read in part. 

“The George Floyd protests against racism and police violence sparked a surge of searches that spoke to the power and passion of the cultural moment, not the least of which were Black Lives Matter and Antifa,” the statement continued. 

One of Dictionary.com’s most important updates was the official decision to capitalize “Black” in reference to people. The move reflects the practice of capitalizing the first letter of other ethnic groups and national identities, e.g. Hispanic. 

The updates reflect the dictionary’s decision to “put people, not practices” first. As such, the dictionary replaced the use of the word “homosexual” to gay, gay man, or gay woman, per GLAAD recommendations.

“Capitalizing "Black," putting people first with "gay," destigmatizing suicide & addiction—our updates touch us on the most personal levels: race & ethnicity, gender & sexuality, health & wellness,” Dictionary.com senior editor John Kelly wrote on Twitter. 

Other additions reflect cultural and technological advances as younger generations adopt a more internet-forward vocabulary. 

Dictionary.com now includes terms such as GOAT, i.e. Greatest Of All Time, gender reveal, and swole.