How Words Make It Into the Dictionary

Have you ever wondered how new words are added to the dictionary, or how the definitions of existing words evolve? The story of the dictionary is a fascinating reflection of how language changes and adapts over time. Let's dive into the history of dictionaries and explore the journey of a word from everyday usage to official recognition.

The Evolution of Dictionaries

While the concept of compiling words and their meanings dates back to ancient times, the first English dictionary didn't appear until 1604. In the years that followed, numerous dictionaries emerged, each shaped by the preferences and opinions of its author. Many of these early dictionaries quickly became outdated, but one particular lexicon from the 19th century took a different path.

Noah Webster's Vision

In 1828, Noah Webster, an American lawyer and author, published "An American Dictionary of the English Language". His ambitious goal was to create a distinct version of the English language for the United States. Webster believed that a new nation needed its own linguistic identity to assert its independence from Britain.

• Webster aimed to document and formalize how Americans spoke.
• He broke from the prescriptive approach of the time, which dictated how words should be used.
• Instead, he included slang and colloquial terms, capturing the local variations of language.
• Critics accused him of polluting the English language, but Webster defended his choices, arguing that these words were a vital part of American English.

The Merriam-Webster Legacy

After Webster's death, brothers George and Charles Merriam recognized a business opportunity and acquired the rights to his dictionary. Together with Webster's son-in-law, they created a revised edition, marking the beginning of the Merriam-Webster Dictionary.

Today, the Merriam-Webster Dictionary strives to address a contradiction in Webster's original goal: representing an entire nation while relying on a single person's opinion. Since Webster's death, each new edition has been curated by a team of language experts, ensuring a more comprehensive and inclusive approach.

The Criteria for Inclusion

So, what does it take for a word to be included in the dictionary? The current criteria are that it must have "widespread, sustained, and meaningful use." This includes:

• Profanities, which were often excluded in the past.
• Even racial slurs meet the criteria, although their inclusion remains a subject of debate due to concerns about legitimizing them.

Redefining Existing Words

Dictionaries don't just add new words; they also redefine existing ones to reflect evolving attitudes and usage. For example, the definition of "wife" has changed significantly over time, reflecting shifts in societal views on marriage and gender roles.

In 2019, Merriam-Webster's word of the year was "they." While the word has been in use for centuries, it recently gained a new recognized meaning as a pronoun for individuals who identify as nonbinary.

The Power of Collective Language

The words we choose and how we define them have a profound impact on society. When our words and definitions are represented, they are affirmed. When they are not, they—and we—are minimized.

Today, lexicographers are expanding their word sourcing methods to include dictionary users. By tracking which words are most searched and incorporating them into the dictionary, they are giving the public a greater voice in shaping the evolution of language.

Shaping Language Together

Ultimately, the decision of what belongs in the dictionary rests with all of us. Every day, we shape language through our collective embrace of new words and our redefinition of existing ones. As these words and meanings gain traction, they eventually find their way into our dictionaries, reflecting the ever-changing landscape of human communication.