What the Heck Does 'Delulu' Mean? Dictionaries Define These 39 Words Popularized by Young People

The English language is constantly changing over time, and never more so than in recent years, as our online existence speeds the spread of new expressions, particularly by younger generations.

The 39 words and phrases below are among the many that have been recently added to the Cambridge Dictionary (CD), Oxford English Dictionary (OED), Dictionary.com (D), which relies on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary as a source, or Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary (MW). Some of these words and phrases appear in more than one dictionary. Some of them you may have used (like “doomscroll”); others are on the stranger side (see: “no cap”).

ate (and left no crumbs), v.: “If it is said that someone ate or ate and left no crumbs, they have performed or done something perfectly or impressively, whether that be singing, dancing, or dressing fashionably and looking good, etc. In other words, they’ve done something flawlessly, as well as it could possibly be done.” (MW)

aura, n.: “Cool’ factor; star power; stylish swagger.” (MW)

babygirl, n.: “An attractive male, often a celebrity, who is admired for being cute, sensitive, vulnerable, or stylish.” (D)

baddie, n.: “A confident, stylish, and attractive woman.” (MW)

barbiecore, n.: “An aesthetic or style featuring playful pink outfits, accessories, decor, etc., celebrating and modeled on the wardrobe of the Barbie doll.” (D)

bed rotting, n.: “The practice of spending many hours in bed during the day, often with snacks or an electronic device, as a voluntary retreat from activity or stress.” (D)

bet, int.: “It can express enthusiastic affirmation, agreement, or approval, similar to ‘For sure!’ or ‘Great!’ It can accept a challenge, often humorously, similar to [Try me!’ It can also convey exasperation or disbelief, usually sarcastically, equivalent to ‘Give me a break!’ or ‘You’ve got to be kidding me.’” (MW)

bingo card, n.: “A set of possibilities governed by chance; esp. a notional list of events, utterances, etc., regarded as being probable or expected in a given context or situation. Also in negative constructions, with reference to unexpected events.” (OED)

brain flossing, n.: “A way of relaxing and reducing stress that involves listening through headphones to music and other sounds that have been recorded in such a way that they seem to move around the listener.” (CD)

broligarchy, n.: “A small group of men, especially men owning or involved in a technology business, who are extremely rich and powerful, and who have or want political influence. The word is a mixture of bro and oligarchy.” (CD)

burnt toast theory, n.: “The idea that a minor inconvenience, like burning your toast in the morning, might actually be preventing something worse happening later in the day.” (CD)

butter skin, n.: “A beauty trend where skincare and makeup products are used to create a very soft, smooth and glowing complexion.” (CD)

butthurt, adj. and n.: “Upset or offended in a way that seems over-the-top or silly.” (MW)

chatbot, n.: “A computer program designed to respond with conversational or informational replies to verbal or written messages from users.” (D)​​

clout, n.: “The slang sense of clout refers to attention, fame, popularity, and sometimes notoriety, especially the kind one may achieve on social media, whether by posting a controversial hot take or performing a stunt on video in the hope that it goes viral.” (MW)

collab, n.: “Collaboration; a joint project, esp. between two writers, musicians, designers, etc.” (OED)