tasteslop noun [U]
UK /ˈteɪst.slɒp/ US /ˈteɪst.slɑːp/
AI-generated content, such as images of clothes, objects, or interior design, that is designed to look tasteful and stylish but is actually bland and unoriginal

Good taste used to require context. Now it requires the right moodboard. Instagram made taste visible, algorithms made it repeatable, and AI made it scalable. Welcome to the age of tasteslop, where originality may be the last status symbol left.
[theestablished.com, 24 June 2026]

See also slop

vibe hacking noun [U]
UK /ˈvaɪb ˌhæk.ɪŋ/ US /ˈvaɪb ˌhæk.ɪŋ/
cybercrime that is carried out with the help of AI, using natural language to give instructions and letting AI generate the code or other tools

The same large language models (LLMs) that help engineers write code faster now help criminals operate faster. What began as “vibe coding,” a mindset that embraces AI output with minimal review, has evolved into “vibe hacking,” attackers delegating the design, orchestration, and execution of campaigns to AI systems.
[threatlocker.com, 21 April 2026]

See also vibe coding

dead internet theory noun [S]
UK /ˌded ˈɪn.tə.net ˌθɪə.ri/ US /ˌded ˈɪn.t̬ɚ.net ˌθɪr.i/
a theory that a lot of the internet is no longer created by real people but rather by bots and other AI tools

Sam Altman, the chief executive of ChatGPT creators OpenAI, has suggested that there might be some truth in the “dead internet theory”. The idea is a conspiracy theory that the majority of content and apparent people online are actually being automatically generated by computers, and that the internet is for the most part “dead”.
[independent.co.uk, 5 September 2025]

About new words

graduation creep noun [U]
/ˌgrædʒ.uˈeɪ.ʃᵊn ˌkriːp/
the trend for graduation ceremonies to be held for pupils and students at lower levels of education and not just for university graduates

Previously, events like these may have involved little more than a sing-along and some remarks from the teacher. Now, however, they’re ticketed occasions, with processions, diplomas, props, and professional photographers. The kids wear miniature caps and gowns, while parents mingle at a reception. Neither the parents nor the teachers I spoke to could point to any one reason for “graduation creep”: gentle parenting, a postpandemic rebound for in-person events, the need for social media documentation—take your pick.
[slate.com, 28 June 2026]

fall curriculum noun [C]
UK /ˌfɔːl kəˈrɪk.jə.ləm/ US /ˌfɑːl kəˈrɪk.jə.ləm/
the trend for adults to assign themselves a number of subjects to study and learn more about during the autumn months

Across TikTok, Gen Zers and millennials are reclaiming study time through a new viral phenomenon known as the “fall curriculum.” The idea is simple but surprisingly effective: instead of scrolling endlessly on their phones, participants set themselves a personal curriculum of three or more subjects to explore during the season. The approach offers structure and the thrill of rediscovering the joy of learning for its own sake.
[newsweek.com, 6 September 2025]

rejection cake noun [C]
/rɪˈdʒek.ʃən ˌkeɪk/
a cake that someone decorates and shares on social media after their application to a university has been rejected, usually as a light-hearted way of showing their disappointment

As videos of emotional college acceptances and elaborate school-themed bed parties fill high schoolers’ social media feeds, some seniors are putting a humorous spin on the emotional let down of getting denied from colleges with rejection cakes … When Co-Founder of Counseling at Expert Admissions Bari Norman saw the rejection cake videos, she thought, “finally, some reality.”
[eu.usatoday.com, 25 April 2025]

About new words

engagement pod noun [C]
UK /ɪnˈgeɪdʒ.mənt ˌpɒd/ US /ɪnˈgeɪdʒ.mənt ˌpɑːd/
a group of people who agree to like, share and leave positive comments on each other’s social media posts to make them appear more popular

One specific form of inauthentic engagement is an engagement pod, which is a coordinated group of people that like, comment and share posts to attempt to boost visibility and virality. This form of inauthentic activity erodes trust and is not allowed on LinkedIn.
[news.linkedin.com, 13 March 2026]

dopamine site noun [C]
UK /ˈdəʊ.pə.miːn ˌsaɪt/ US /ˈdoʊ.pə.miːn ˌsaɪt/
a fake shopping site that mimics the experience of browsing and adding items to a cart so users can get the pleasure of shopping without spending money

Online “dopamine sites” trending among young people in South Korea have taken this phenomenon to a whole new level by offering fake consumption experiences. These sites capture the pleasure associated with buying without the financial cost, splitting the emotional experience of anticipation from any real-world consequences.
[psychologytoday.com, 22 June 2026]

clipping economy noun [C]
UK /ˈklɪp.ɪŋ iˌkɒn.ə.mi/ US /ˈklɪp.ɪŋ iˌkɑː.nə.mi/
an online economy based on creating and sharing short video clips to increase views and make money

And this is no longer a niche corner of internet culture. Some estimates now place the clipping economy at roughly a $3 billion industry as of early 2026, spanning creator payouts, clipping agencies, AI editing tools, growth marketplaces, and distributed content networks.
[linkedin.com/pulse, 19 May 2026]

About new words

omega block noun [C]
UK /ˈəʊ.mɪ.gə ˌblɒk/ US /oʊˈmeɪ.gə ˌblɑːk/
a weather pattern, resembling the uppercase Greek letter omega, where an area of warmer high pressure is trapped between two areas of cooler low pressure, causing the same weather conditions to last for a long period

Omega blocks usually last between three and ten days, but can go on for longer. With the current omega block, a “surge of hot, dry air from North Africa has become trapped in the atmosphere over parts of Europe,” said Time … In Paris this week, temperatures hit a June record of 105.62 F.
[theweek.com, 26 June 2026]

weather whiplash noun [S]
UK /ˌweð.ə ˈwɪp.læʃ/ US /ˌweð.ɚ ˈwɪp.læʃ/
a quick change from one extreme of weather to another, for example from very cold to very hot, or very dry to very wet

Winter days balmy enough for shirtsleeves, followed by record-setting polar-vortex lows. Day after day of blue skies, followed by torrential rains. Jungle humidity, then air so dry that skin feels like sandpaper. Temperatures spiking past 90 degrees for a day and then falling back to the 50’s and under. There is an informal term for all these weird back-and-forth weather extremes we’re witnessing: weather whiplash.
[clf.org, 27 May 2026]

global weirding noun [U]
UK /ˌgləʊ.bᵊl ˈwɪəd.ɪŋ/ US /ˌgloʊ.bᵊl ˈwɪrd.ɪŋ/
the process by which climate change is causing the weather worldwide to become more extreme and unpredictable

Global weirding speaks to the complex ways climate change is affecting weather globally. It refers to the fact that many extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and/or more severe than they were in the past … Global weirding affects us all, but it doesn’t affect us all equally. Communities that are already marginalised, lacking access to clean water, sufficient food, or reliable housing, are often most vulnerable to these disasters.
[climatewords.org, n.d.]

See also global warming

About new words

scroll fatigue noun [U]
UK /ˈskrəʊl fəˌtiːg/ US /ˈskroʊl ˌfətiːg/
a feeling of mental exhaustion caused by spending too much time scrolling through social media or other online content

Understanding scroll fatigue as a unique type of cognitive strain helps us see why it can feel so insidious. Unlike tiredness from work or physical activity, scroll fatigue often sneaks up, leaving users unaware of the subtle depletion until it manifests in frustration, distraction, or digital avoidance.
[mindfultechwork.com, 17 January 2026]

ultraprocessed time noun [U]
UK /ˌʌl.trəˌprəʊ.sest ˈtaɪm/ US /ˌʌl.trəˌprɑː.sest ˈtaɪm/
time spent consuming online content that has been designed to keep people watching it, rather than to be useful or educational

Dr. John La Puma, an internist and author of “Indoor Epidemic,” calls these moments we’re on our phones “ultraprocessed time,” because they don’t replenish us. Much like ultraprocessed food, he told me, ultraprocessed time is “engineered for convenience, compulsion and stimulation, not for nourishment.”
[nytimes.com, 4 June 2026]

Slow Social Era noun [S]
UK /ˌsləʊ ˈsəʊ.ʃᵊl ˌɪə.rə/ US /ˌsləʊ ˈsoʊ.ʃᵊl ˌɪr.ə/
a period when people use social media less often and more carefully

So, what exactly is the Slow Social Era? It’s the collective pushback against the speed, sameness and synthetic feel of the modern internet. People are tired of doomscrolling, tired of AI slop filling their feeds, tired of the pressure to keep up with a content treadmill that never stops. The Slow Social Era isn’t about deleting social media entirely – it’s about redefining our relationship with it.
[astondigital.com.au, 2 December 2025]

About new words

predictive shopping noun [U]
UK /prɪˌdɪk.tɪv ˈʃɒp.ɪŋ/ US /prɪˌdɪk.tɪv ˈʃɑː.pɪŋ/
a form of online shopping where AI predicts what the customer is likely to want or need and automatically recommends products

Predictive shopping is the next big thing. AI will track your preferences, habits, and browsing patterns, offering product suggestions before you even realize you need them. For example, if you’re a frequent activewear shopper, AI will recommend the latest styles right when it knows you need new shoes.
[www.scayle.com, 10 February 2026]

searchless retail noun [U]
UK /ˌsɜːtʃ.ləs ˈriː.teɪl/ US /ˌsɝːtʃ.ləs ˈriː.teɪl/
a form of online shopping where the customer uses AI tools to find products to buy instead of carrying out online searches

Consumers are no longer typing fragmented keywords and scanning filter results. They are asking questions, engaging in conversations, receiving AI-chosen recommendations, and in some cases are now completing purchases within the AI conversation. This is searchless retail, where discovery happens through AI agents, generative search, and conversational commerce without the customer ever visiting a retailer’s site or using a traditional search function.
[sitecore.com, n.d.]

agentic commerce noun [U]
UK /əˌdʒən.tɪk ˈkɒm.ɜːs/ US /əˌdʒən.tɪk ˈkɑː.mɝːs/
a form of online shopping where AI tools search for products, compare them, and then buy them on the customer’s behalf

Agentic commerce is a new form of online and mobile shopping, in which an AI agent “closes the loop” or completes tasks for a user — such as searching for items, comparing options and making a purchase — with limited or no manual inputs needed from that user.
[mastercard.com, 23 March 2026]

About new words

worldschooling noun [U]
UK /ˌwɜːld.ˈskuː.lɪŋ/ US /ˌwɝːld.ˈskuː.lɪŋ/
a form of education where children travel the world and are taught by their parents rather than attending a traditional school

The rise of remote work, flexible lifestyles and the desire for meaningful family time has made worldschooling an appealing alternative to traditional schooling. Children do not simply learn about history, geography, science or languages in theory. They learn them as they live them. The world becomes the classroom, and travel becomes a catalyst for deeper learning.
[enjoyeducation.co.uk, 22 December 2025]

See also home schooling

sight-doing noun [U]
/ˈsaɪt.duː.ɪŋ/
an approach to travel in which tourists take part in activities or experiences when they are on holiday rather than only visiting sights

In a world of fleeting experiences, sight-doing transforms the journey from passive observation into active participation. Sight-doing is all about engaging with a destination in a way that leaves a tangible mark. Travelers are embracing workshops that produce something they can hold, wear, or display.
[americanexpress.com, 7 April 2026]

See also sightseeing

runcation noun [C]
/rʌn.ˈkeɪ.ʃᵊn/
a holiday based around the activity of running

More and more jet-setting fitness fans are embracing “runcations” — getaways centered on running, which can include everything from destination races to resorts with scenic trails … Runcations fall into two categories: race-focused trips and vacations in which running is the primary way to explore the destination. As interest grows, hotels and resorts answer with guided runs, curated routes and wellness recovery programs.
[nypost.com, 8 April 2026]

About new words

annoyance economy noun [C usually S]
UK /əˈnɔɪ.ᵊns iˌkɒn.ə.mi/ US /əˈnɔɪ.ᵊns iˌkɑː.nə.mi/
the situation where companies deliberately make products or services inconvenient or frustrating for their customers in order to make more money or gather information about them

The so-called annoyance economy refers to the web of spam calls, customer service chatbots and impossible-to-cancel subscriptions, among other aggravations, that Americans have to navigate in their regular financial lives … All these small tasks, and the time and headaches they can involve, add up to a real financial cost.
[theweek.com, 7 May 2026] Continue reading “New words – 8 June 2026” →

dusking noun [U]
/ˈdʌsk.ɪŋ/
the practice of watching daylight turn to darkness as a form of relaxation

An old Dutch ritual of going outside to watch the coming of night – or dusking – is having a revival across Europe. Fans of the practice say it’s a great way to disconnect from screens and find peace … In the Netherlands, dusking was once an everyday ritual, with families sitting together to observe the end of the day and the coming of night.
[theguardian.com, 1 March 2026] Continue reading “New words – 1 June 2026” →

tool sprawl noun [C usually S]
UK /ˈtuːl ˌsprɔːl/ US /ˈtuːl ˌsprɑːl/
the situation where a company uses too many different apps or other digital tools, making work more complicated and difficult to manage

Consolidating workplace tech, or tackling what’s been dubbed “tool sprawl”, is on the agenda for many organizations right now. We’re all fed up with having to jump between five different apps to complete a simple task. Simply put, “tool sprawl” is the accumulation of a large number of platforms and channels that leads to an inefficient and costly digital workplace, and a frustrating and disengaging digital employee experience.
[workvivo.com, 28 January 2026]

RAMageddon noun [U]
UK /ˌræm.əˈged.ᵊn/ US /ˌræm.əˈged.ᵊn/
a severe global shortage of RAM memory chips

RAMageddon is the fun new term for a not-so-fun trend that is sweeping the tech industry: an ever-increasing shortage of random access memory, or RAM chips, which power pretty much all the tech products we use in our daily lives. As the AI industry has blossomed, the biggest tech companies and AI labs — all vying to have the most powerful and efficient AI — are buying so much RAM to power their data centers that there’s not much left for the rest of us.
[techcrunch.com, 12 April 2026]

See also Armageddon

shadow AI noun [U]
UK /ˌʃæd.əʊ ˌeɪˈaɪ/ US /ˌʃæd.oʊ ˌeɪˈaɪ/
the use of AI tools in the workplace without authorization from the company’s IT department

The use of unsanctioned AI tools, also known as shadow AI, has become more common in the workplace. Top executives prefer the use of shadow AI because it allows work to get done quicker. But while unsanctioned AI tools can be useful, they come with a price. Shadow AI is ranked 3rd in the list of contributing factors to data breach costs. These tools could store or reuse data and cause compliance and regulatory concerns.
[nojitter.com, 15 April 2026]

About new words