10 new English words

PTE Author
PTE Author
Image- Scrabble WFH 800px
Reading time: 5 minutes

Hundreds of new words are added to the dictionary each year, and it often takes months of consideration to decide which ones. But when the pandemic began in 2020, many words we’d never heard of suddenly became part of our day-to-day vocabulary – think words like “furlough”, “stay at home order”, and COVID-19 (which was only invented in February 2020). With this, dictionaries raced to add new entries, and helped us to define our “new normal”. So, what are some of the words that got added last year? Let’s explore 10 new words you’ll need:  

1. Adulting 

Definition: The action of becoming or acting like an adult 

In December 2020, the Oxford English Dictionary added the word “adulting.” It’s often used by young people when they talk about doing tasks that are essential to every-day life – like cooking meals, buying insurance, or paying taxes.  

How to use it: My roommates and I are adulting all the time. We clean the whole house every Saturday! 

2. Awe walk 

Definition: Taking a walk outside and making an effort to look at the things around you 

“Awe walk” hasn’t been added to the Cambridge Dictionary yet – but they have noticed it’s been used quite a bit. The word “awe” means a feeling of respect. So when someone says they will take an awe walk, it means they’ll notice – and feel grateful for – all the small things around them. 

The word was actually coined by the authors of a psychological study, which found older people who took awe walks felt more positive and less stressed over time.  

How to use it: Today on our awe walk we noticed a tree we’d never seen before.  

3. Contactless 

Definition: not having to physically touch or interact with people, or relating to a technological system for payments, where information is transmitted over short distances without physical contact

“Contactless” delivery became a popular option for shoppers during the pandemic. People who choose contactless delivery get their groceries or food delivered to the doorsteps, but don’t have to go out to receive them. Merriam-Webster added the word to their dictionary in April, right at the beginning of the pandemic. Contactless is also referred to when talking about contactless payment technology.

How to use it: Our family started to shop at a new grocery store, because we wanted the option to have contactless delivery.  

The limit on contactless payments has increased. 

4. Doomscrolling 

Definition: the action of constantly scrolling through and reading depressing news on a news site or on social media, especially on a phone  

Dictionary.com added “doomscrolling” in summer 2020. And, we’ve all done it. Doomscrolling is when you become obsessed with staying up to date with bad news. It’s a combination of the noun “doom” and verb “scroll” – and was made popular by the journalist Karen Ho last year.  

How to use it: I was doomscrolling on Twitter today while reading about Covid-19 cases. I think it’s why I feel so anxious now.  

 

5. PPE

Definition: an abbreviation for personal protective equipment 

Many of us first heard the word “PPE” at the beginning of the pandemic, and the word was added by Merriam-Webster last April. PPE is the abbreviation of personal protective equipment. This is the clothing people wear to protect themselves from danger. Masks, gloves, face shields, and goggles are all examples of PPE. 

How to use it: Many healthcare professionals and essential workers did not have access to PPE at the beginning of the pandemic.  

 

6. Quarenteen

Definition: a teenager during the COVID-19 pandemic  

Do you know a “quarenteen?” It’s another word that’s been observed by Cambridge Dictionary – but hasn’t been added quite yet. If it is added, quarenteen will be a homophone for the word “quarantine.” It’ll also be a compound noun of “quarantine” and “teenager.”  

How to use it: My sister was a quarenteen and spent a lot of time on TikTok. 

 

7. Thirsty 

Definition: Having a need for attention or approval  

But doesn’t thirsty mean needing to drink? Well, Merriam-Webster added a new definition of the word last year. “Thirsty” means having a strong desire for attention – especially on social media. Thirsty is informal, and it’s mostly used by young people. 

How to use it: My brother is thirsty. He posts so many photos of our dog Jellybean on Instagram because he wants her to be a dog model.

 

8. Truthiness 

Definition: something that seems true but isn’t backed up by evidence 

The word “truthiness” became popular after American comedian Stephen Colbert talked about it on his show The Colbert Report back in 2005. It was meant to be a joke, but many dictionaries have now included the word – including Merriam-Webster. With so much disinformation going around right now, we think it’s a great word for today's world.  

How to use it: In this class, you can’t speak truthiness and expect to get away with it.  

 

9. Unconscious bias 

Definition: unconscious prejudice against people of a certain race, gender, or group 

“Unconscious bias” is a negative term, which was added to the Oxford English Dictionary last year. Everyone has unconscious beliefs about other groups, and these beliefs can cause them to discriminate against others. There is also conscious bias. When people are consciously biased, their discrimination is intentional.   

How to use it: In this day and age, I hope more workplaces will address their conscious and unconscious bias.

 

10. WFH

Definition:  An abbreviation for work (or working) from home  

The word “WFH” was added to Merriam-Webster in April 2020 when many people were WFH! This is an important word to know if you're part of an English-speaking workplace.  

How to use it: My co-workers say they’re WFH on Slack everyday.

So, what’s your favorite new word? We recommend keeping up on all the new words added to dictionaries throughout the year –  it’s a great way to expand your vocab!  

For more English-learning resources, don’t forget to check out our articles and click on the 'Test tips & advice' filter.

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    Now that you know what exactly a migration agent does, what are some advantages of hiring one? 

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    Since migration agents follow a Code of Conduct, they’re also obliged to act in your best interest. This means they’ll provide you with professional immigration advice throughout the whole visa process, and should be just a phone call away whenever you have any questions.  

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    They can provide support in English  

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    Keep in mind that migration agents aren’t there to translate or interpret documents for you. But working with someone who speaks English fluently to prepare your application can help ensure you don’t miss anything.  

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    Of course, choosing to work with a migration agent is a big decision. There are a few things to keep in mind before you decide to hire an agent – or rather, work on your own.  

    Migration agents can be expensive 

    Working with a migration agent is expensive; their services can sometimes cost thousands of dollars. Each migration agent can set their own price. But the fee will usually depend on what visa you’re applying to, how much help you need, and how much experience your migration agent has. Before signing on with an agent, OMARA recommends speaking with at least three professionals to compare how much they charge. 

    Overall, moving to Australia is a big investment. So if you’ve researched the visa application and are confident you understand all that’s required, you might decide it’s better to complete the visa process yourself. 

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    In most cases, only registered agents can legally give you immigration advice. However, there are people who pretend to be registered agents, which opens the door to immigration fraud. There are also unregistered agents who might not have knowledge of immigration law, could give bad advice, or could lose important files.  

    On the other hand, as we mentioned above, registered migration agents have to follow a Code of Conduct – which offers you a range of protections. If for some reason you’re unhappy with your agent, OMARA can also help you to resolve disputes.  

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    There’s no guarantees  

    It’s important to remember that simply hiring a migration agent does not guarantee your application will be successful. There are many factors that influence a successful application, some of which may be outside even the best agent’s control.  

    Overall, it’s important to do lots of research before deciding to hire a migration agent. Once you understand what’s required in the visa process, ask yourself: do I feel confident completing the application on my own? Will I be able to invest the time needed to prepare the application well?  

    And do I have friends who can recommend a good migration agent, if I choose to work with one?  

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    We are not immigration agents. For all up-to-date information about visa rules and regulations, see the official guidelines on the Australia Department of Home Affairs website.