medfluencer noun [C]
UK /ˈmed.flu.ən.səʳ/ US /ˈmed.flu.ən.sɚ/
a medical doctor who gives advice, recommends products etc. on social media

He is a pin-up, albeit one mainly in scrubs. Kharma is part of a new set of social media stars called the medfluencers, doctors with thousands of Instagram followers and YouTube channels where videos get millions of views.
[The Times, 15 August 2020]

digital campfire noun [C]
UK /ˌdɪdʒ.ɪ.tᵊl.ˈkæmp.faɪəʳ/ US /ˌdɪdʒ.ə.t̬ᵊl.ˈkæmp.faɪr/
a small group of people who communicate online, usually on a social media site

If social media can feel like a crowded airport terminal where everyone is allowed, but no one feels particularly excited to be there, digital campfires offer a more intimate oasis where smaller groups of people are excited to gather around shared interests. I’ve identified three categories of digital campfires: private messaging, micro-communities, and shared experiences. Some digital campfires are a combination of all three.
[Harvard Business Review, 5 February 2020]

social listening noun [U]
UK /ˌsəʊ.ʃᵊl.ˈlɪs.ᵊn.ɪŋ/ US /ˌsoʊ.ʃᵊl.ˈlɪs.ᵊn.ɪŋ/
the activity of collecting information from social media sites on what people are saying about a particular topic, such as a product or brand

The number of social media conversations happening at any given time is massive. They ebb and flow with the news and cover any and all topics. From grandparents sharing local, old photos on Facebook groups to endless pop culture debates on Reddit. Social listening, or social media listening, gives you the ability to take all these conversations and get meaningful insights and data out of them.
[brandwatch.com, 1 January 2020]

About new words

Japandi noun [U]
/dʒəˈpæn.di/
a style of home decor that combines Japanese and Scandinavian elements

A mash-up of elegant Japanese minimalism and rustic Scandinavian simplicity, Japandi is a hybrid trend bringing together the best bits of two much-loved styles. Your home is your sanctuary and you take a less-is-more approach with uncluttered spaces, clean lines and a calm, subdued colour palette. At the same time, you want your home to feel relaxed and comfortable, lived-in and homely, so finding a balance between minimal and cosy is key.
[homesandgardens.com, 21 February 2020]

grandmillennial adjective
/ˌgrænd.mɪˈlen.i.əl/
relating to a style of dressing or decorating a home that combines old-fashioned items with modern ones

If you’re a wearer of a maxi floral dress and a chunky white trainer then you’re probably gonna love the grandmillennial style. The Millennial in us craves a simple and contemporary aesthetic, whereas the Granny in us can’t resist a bit of pattern and glamorous nostalgia from the art-deco era.
[glamourmagazine.co.uk, 23 February 2020]

tablescaping noun [U]
/ˈteɪ.bᵊl.skeɪ.pɪŋ/
the activity of setting a dining table in a very artistic, decorative way, usually for a special occasion

Put simply, tablescaping is the art of dressing your table for a dinner party or special occasion – in the same way you might put together an outfit for a night out. Starting with the tablecloth, you colour-coordinate and theme your way up to the napkins, plates, bowls, salt and pepper shakers and candles, finishing off with a vase of flowers or a bowl of fresh seasonal fruit.
[you.co.uk, 26 July 2020]

About new words

physical literacy noun [U]
UK /ˌfɪz.ɪ.kᵊl.ˈlɪt.ᵊr.ə.si/ US /ˌfɪz.ɪ.kᵊl.ˈlɪt̬.ɚ.ə.si/
the ability to carry out basic physical activities, such as running, jumping, throwing and catching

Children should be taught “physical literacy” in the same way they learn to read and write if the gold-medal successes of athletes such as Dina Asher-Smith and Katarina Johnson-Thompson are to translate into more people getting active, the head of the body tasked with increasing sporting uptake in England has said.
[The Guardian, 5 October 2019]

death diving noun [U]
/ˈdeθ.daɪ.vɪŋ/
a sport in which participants jump in a horizontal position from a diving board, only tucking their arms and legs in just before they hit the water

Arne Haugland, a Norwegian man who competes in “death diving” competitions, shared a video of himself taking a terrifying, headfirst leap into a hole in a partially frozen body of water in Svalbard, a Norwegian archipelago located between mainland Norway and the North Pole.
[www.intheknow.com, 7 May 2020]

chessboxing noun [U]
UK /ˈtʃes.bɒk.sɪŋ/ US /ˈtʃes.bɑːk.sɪŋ/
a sport that combines chess and boxing

The fusion of chess and boxing into the hybrid sport of “chessboxing” has provoked controversy as its supporters prepare to host the first pay-per-view event next weekend. Devotees of the “game of kings” have decried chessboxing as a “freak show” and a “hoax” that combines “bad chess and worse boxing”.
[www.telegraph.co.uk, 18 July 2020]

About new words

boreout noun [U]
/ˈbɔːr.aʊt/
extreme tiredness and depression caused by being bored at work over a long period of time

Unlike burnout, boreout can be caused by there being no work or too little of it (rather than being overloaded with it), which can have an adverse impact on an employee’s psychological well-being. Although there are different boredom thresholds, the onset of boreout is directly related to work tasks being too few and far between, off-putting, or meaningless.
[welcometothejungle.com, 4 April 2019]

workation noun [C]
UK /wɜː.ˈkeɪ.ʃᵊn/ US /wɝː.ˈkeɪ.ʃᵊn/
a holiday where you stay in a hotel or other accommodation and work from there

For many years I’ve been on “workation”, doing my job in hotels across the country. Covid-19 put a stop to all that and gave me time to reflect. The hospitality industry will need our help more than ever over the coming months if it is to survive. Given that I can now work from any location in the UK, I’ve decided to take mini-breaks during the off-season, and continue working as I go.
[Sunday Times, 23 August 2020]

adaptability quotient noun [C]
UK /əˌdæp.təˈbɪl.ə.ti.ˈkwəʊ.ʃᵊnt/ US /əˌdæp.təˈbɪl.ə.t̬i.ˈkwoʊ.ʃᵊnt/
the ability of someone or the company they work for to adapt to change and stay successful

If you want a competitive advantage right now (and admit it, who isn’t feeling insecure about work?), what you need is not a high IQ, or EQ, but AQ – “adaptability quotient”. How to improve adaptability is one of the most common questions business coaches are being asked. You can start, says the executive coach Dr Sally Ann Law, by “observing how others do things and being open-minded about their way being better than yours”.
[Sunday Times, 21 June 2020]

About new words

long covid noun [U]
UK /ˈlɒŋ.kəʊvɪd/ US /ˈlɑːŋ.koʊvɪd/
a condition in which people who have had the covid-19 virus continue to have symptoms and feel unwell for a long time

“Long covid” is a term being used to describe illness in people who have either recovered from covid-19 but still report lasting effects of the infection or have had the usual symptoms for far longer than would be expected.
[bmj.com, 14 July 2020]

maskne noun [U]
/ˈmæsk.ni/
acne caused or made worse by wearing a mask

While maskne might be new to many of us, it didn’t originate out of nowhere. “It has always been an issue in professions where you have to wear a mask regularly,” says dermatologist, Amy Kassouf, MD. “But now that the general public has to wear masks, the incidence of it has certainly increased.”
[health.clevelandclinic.org, 13 July 2020]

Covid toe noun [U]
UK /ˌkəʊvɪd.ˈtəʊ/ US /ˌkoʊvɪd.ˈtoʊ/
a rash or red swelling on the toes, thought to be a symptom of the covid-19 virus

In May, the term “Covid toe” was increasingly discussed as a possible symptom of the coronavirus. The condition, which involves chilblain-like lesions appearing on the feet, is one of several skin conditions currently being investigated as potential signs of Covid-19.
[independent.co.uk, 15 July 2020]

About new words

astrotourism noun [U]
UK /ˌæs.trəʊ.ˈtʊə.rɪ.zᵊm/ US /ˌæs.troʊ.ˈtʊr.ɪ.zᵊm/
travelling to places to look at the stars or to see other events related to outer space, such as eclipses, rocket launches, etc.

Dark Skies, which claims to be the world’s first guide to “astrotourism”, is designed to help you to see the night sky in a new light. It takes you on a night-time journey to 35 dark-sky sites and national parks, and provides practical information on how to witness the next decade’s solar eclipses.
[The Times, 23 November 2019]

heritage travel noun [U]
UK /ˈher.ɪ.tɪdʒ.træv.ᵊl/ US /ˈher.ɪ.t̬ɪdʒ.træv.ᵊl/
travelling to places where your ancestors lived to learn more about their lives

In 2019, Airbnb partnered with 23andMe to give heritage travel recommendations to its customers. When 23andMe users get their DNA results, they also receive suggestions from Airbnb for rentals and experiences in their ancestral locations. Airbnb also has pages on its website dedicated to heritage travel.
[breaktheicemedia.com, 26 February 2020]

philantourism noun [U]
UK /ˌfɪl.ən.ˈtʊə.rɪ.zᵊm/ US /ˌfɪl.æn.ˈtʊr.ɪ.zᵊm/
going on holiday to places where the tourist industry needs support

“Philantourism” is all about travel as a force for good… it’s a natural evolution of voluntourism, but less of a commitment; you don’t need to do anything after you arrive, other than enjoy the culture, buy local and put your spending money into the tourism economy.
[townandcountrymag.com, 17 June 2020]

About new words

quaranteam noun [C]
UK /ˈkwɒr.ᵊn.tiːm/ US /ˈkwɔːr.ᵊn.tiːm/
a group of people who go into quarantine together

Quaranteams, therefore, are not simply a convenient idea because they let people see their friends and family. Isolation poses serious health risks – both physically and mentally – that social bubbles can help alleviate while improving social well-being and quality of life.
[theconversation.com, 17 June 2020]

lockstalgia noun [U]
UK /lɒk.ˈstæl.dʒə/ US /lɑːk.ˈstæl.dʒə/
a feeling of nostalgia for the lockdown period of the covid-19 pandemic

Above all, just as you may have entered lockdown with purpose, exit it with purpose too. If you do not, then you may start having feelings of “lockstalgia”, and start regretting that you did not keep doing the things that you not only found more efficient but preferred and actually enjoyed.
[citywire.co.uk, 2 July 2020]

twindemic noun [C]
/twɪn.ˈdem.ɪk/
a widespread outbreak of both flu and covid-19 at the same time

As public health officials look to fall and winter, the specter of a new surge of Covid-19 gives them chills. But there is a scenario they dread even more: a severe flu season, resulting in a “twindemic.” … The concern about a twindemic is so great that officials around the world are pushing the flu shot even before it becomes available in clinics and doctors’ offices.
[www.nytimes, 16 August 2020]

About new words

dalgona coffee noun [C, U]
UK /dæl.ˌgəʊnə.ˈkɒf.i/ US /dæl.ˌgoʊnə.ˈkɑːf.i/
a drink made from instant coffee, sugar and hot water whipped together until thick and creamy and served over hot or cold milk

I fiddled with a number of approaches to dalgona coffee. I tried using fresh-brewed espresso, but it doesn’t froth sufficiently even when I added heavy cream and extra sugar to the mixture. (I later learned there’s something to the science of instant coffee that helps generate the necessary air bubbles.)
[spokesman.com, 4 May 2020]

bluicing noun [U]
/ˈbluː.sɪŋ/
the process of extracting the juice out of fruit or vegetables then mixing it with other ingredients in a blender to make a smoothie or similar drink

Then, along came the “bluicing” trend, the savior to many of my healthy eating demons. Bluicing is the act of extracting freshly made juice straight into a blender in order to make the most delicious and fresh slushies, smoothies and more. With this multi-functional wellness hack, you can skip the milk-based addition to your smoothies and use juice as the binder for all your ingredients.
[newbeauty.com, 6 February 2020]

walktail noun [C]
UK /ˈwɒk.teɪl/ US /ˈwɑːk.teɪl/
a cocktail that you drink while you walk

For those on a budget, the walktail can just as easily be made at home. Kummer also added that it offers an additional outlet for of-age adults to socialize while maintaining a safe distance. “It’s another way of meeting your neighbors, keeping social distance, and having a drink,” he said.
[wgbh.org, 22 May 2020]

About new words

crisis beard noun [C]
UK /ˌkraɪ.sɪs.ˈbɪəd/ US /ˌkraɪ.sɪs.ˈbɪrd/
a beard grown by a man who is undergoing a difficult or stressful situation

When is a beard just a beard – and when is it a “crisis beard”? US website Vox coined the phrase to define the moment when a man of a certain age has a moment of existential crisis, downs tools and ditches the razor.
[www.guardian.com, 6 February 2020]

skin hunger noun [U]
UK /ˌskɪn.ˈhʌŋ.gəʳ/ US /ˌskɪn.ˈhʌŋ.gɚ/
the basic human need to be touched

For many people, these past few months in lockdown might be the longest they have ever gone without physical contact with a friend. In our new Hidden Value series, we explore the effect “skin hunger” is having on our wellbeing.
[www.bbc.com/future, 7 July 2020]

lockdown tache noun [C]
UK /ˌlɒk.daʊn.ˈtæʃ/ US /ˌlɑːk.daʊn.ˈtæʃ/
a moustache that its wearer has allowed to grow during lockdown

Ever the disciple of the zeitgeist, Harry Styles has joined the long line of celebrities who have grown a moustache during the coronavirus pandemic. The “lockdown tache” has been seen on a wide variety of famous top lips including Armie Hammer, Tyler, the Creator, Dele Alli and Ronnie O’Sullivan.
[theguardian.com, 24 July 2020]

About new words

space marshal noun [C]
UK /ˈspeɪs.mɑː.ʃᵊl/ US /ˈspeɪs.mɑːr.ʃᵊl/
someone whose job is to make sure people are obeying the rules of physical distancing in places such as shops, libraries etc.

They are set to reopen this weekend, although they will have changed, with space marshals at the door, librarians behind Perspex screens, limited capacities and quarantined books.
[inews.co.uk, 3 July 2020]

anti-masker noun [C]
UK /ˌæn.ti.ˈmæskəʳ/ US /ˌæn.t̬i.ˈmæskɚ/
someone who refuses to obey the rule that a mask must be worn in public places to help protect people from covid-19

On Australia’s morning television Today show, presenter Karl Stefanovic cut off an interview with an anti-masker after telling her she had “weird, wacko beliefs” and “I can’t listen to you anymore”. And that’s relatively tame, compared with what’s being said about the “covidiots” on social media.
[theconversation.com, 30 July 2020]

coronavision noun [U]
UK /kəˈrəʊ.nə.vɪʒ.ᵊn/ US /kəˈroʊ.nə.vɪʒ.ᵊn/
problems with eyesight that began or worsened during the period of the covid-19 pandemic and lockdown

Millions of Brits could be suffering from eye problems dubbed ‘coronavision’ after feeling that their sight deteriorated during lockdown, according to a study for the College of Optometrists. One in five adults in the country say they think their vision has become worse in the past four months, with one in three blaming it on too much screen time.
[www.college-optometrists.org, 10 July 2020]

About new words