reindeer noir noun [U]
UK /ˌreɪn.dɪə ˈnwɑːʳ/ US /ˌreɪn.dɪr ˈnwɑːr/
crime stories and films set in Lapland

“Reindeer noir” intertwines traditional Nordic noir elements such as dark and brooding atmospheres, complex characters, and intricate mysteries with the unique cultural aspects of Lapland. This fusion creates a distinct sub-genre that explores crime and societal issues in a setting rarely seen in mainstream noir fiction.
[quora.com, 15 December 2023]

See also Nordic noir

romantasy noun [U, C]
UK /rəʊˈmæn.tə.si/ US /roʊˈmæn.tə.si/
a type of fiction that combines elements of romance and fantasy

The American novelist is among a new generation of uber-bestselling authors writing “romantasy”, a portmanteau of “romance” and “fantasy” applied to novels that blend elements of both genres … Romantasy authors are selling well in part because of their huge popularity on social media; Maas’ publisher, Bloomsbury, says that videos with hashtags connected to her books have more than 14bn views on TikTok alone.
[theguardian.com, 2 February 2024]

lostwave noun [U]
UK /ˈlɒst.weɪv/ US /ˈlɑːst.weɪv/
songs and other music whose title and composer are now unknown

Lostwave is the term for music and songs that exist, but are totally lost to time. Lostwave is discovered when people post a song to the internet asking for a name, only to find out that no one knows what song it is. That generally kicks off a major search from the lostwave community to find out what the name of the song is.
[ossiana.substack.com, 12 December 2023]

About new words

DINKWAD noun [C]
UK /ˈdɪŋk.wɒd/ US /ˈdɪŋk.wɑːd/
ABBREVIATION FOR dual income, no kids, with a dog: a member of a young couple in which both partners earn a lot of money and have a dog but no children

“The allure of the DINKWAD lifestyle is solely based on financial and personal freedom from any responsibility,” Ahmed said. Instead, Benfield and Ahmed love to travel, and are both passionate about not having children. They have a beloved rescue mutt named Yvie instead.
[businessinsider.com, 4 February 2023]

See also DINK

guppie noun [C]
/ˈɡʌp.i/
ABBREVIATION FOR given up on property: a young person who has given up on the idea of ever being able to buy their own home

Meet the “guppie”, the yuppie’s descendant. He or she is a young adult on an above average salary (£33,000 for people in full-time work) who has either given up on ever owning a home or accepted that they will have to give up dinners out, holidays and pretty much everything else in order to do so.
[inews.co.uk, 11 August 2023]

See also yuppie

HENRY noun [C]
/ˈhen.ri/
ABBREVIATION FOR high earner, not rich yet: someone who earns a lot of money but has few savings or other assets

Are you among a growing group of people in the U.S. who have a high household income, yet your savings never seem to grow significantly year after year? Believe it or not, there’s a name for that: HENRY. HENRY stands for “High Earner, Not Rich Yet,” and refers to anyone with a high income but low net worth. For HENRYs, it can be frustrating to feel like they’re not getting ahead, even if their income is well above the average.
[wealthkeel.com, 15 December 2023]

About new words

neobank noun [C]
UK /ˈniː.əʊˌbæŋk/ US /ˈniː.oʊˌbæŋk/
a type of bank that provides only online banking services and has no physical branches

Neobanks work similarly to traditional banks and offer the same types of services, yet they perform all available functions online or through a mobile app. Neobanks may also partner with chartered banks to offer their customers FDIC insurance and additional benefits, but those considering a neobank should check to make sure.
cnn.com, 4 March 2024

time bank noun [C]
/ˈtaɪm ˌbæŋk/
a system where the unit of currency is one hour of someone’s time, with the people using the bank exchanging services and skills

A time bank functions much like traditional currency but with a unique twist: it’s measured in hours, not dollars. Every hour spent helping others earns one credit – every hour holds equal value, irrespective of the service provided. It’s a system that stitches communities together by recognizing and honoring the contributions of all participants.
[givingtuesday.org, 5 November 2023]

multibank noun [C]
/ˈmʌl.tiˌbæŋk/
a place where essential items such as food, clothing, toiletries and household goods are given to people who don’t have enough money to buy them

First established 14 months ago in Scotland and since March in Manchester, four new multibanks are set to launch in 2024 including in London, the Midlands and Wales, with the idea that there will be multibanks in different parts of the country by the end of next year.
[standard.co.uk, 19 December 2023]

About new words

WFB noun [U]
ABBREVIATION FOR working from boat: used to refer to a person doing their job while living on a boat rather than travelling to an office, etc. in order to do it

As the trend of working remotely continues, more and more people are evolving Working From Home (WFH) into Working From Boat (WFB). For some, WFB is done intermittently, alternating living and working onshore with occasional cruises on their boat.
[sailworldcruising.com, 18 Nov 2022 ]

See also WFH

wanderpreneur noun [C]
UK /ˌwɒn.də.prəˈnɜːʳ/ US /ˌwɑːn.dɚ.prəˈnɝː/
someone who does not have a permanent office or home and spends time living with their family and working in different towns or countries

I’m here with three kids in tow, making me part of a growing trend for “wanderpreneurs”: digital nomads but all grown-up. Have kids, will travel. For wanderpreneurs, this is a nomadic life but with structure: children are occupied during the day so adults can earn money.
[Sunday Times, 24 March 2024]

See also digital nomad

tethered nomad noun [C]
UK /ˌteð.əd ˈnəʊ.mæd/ US / ˌteð.ɚd ˈnoʊ.mæd/
someone who spends part of their time living and working in a single location and the rest of their time travelling so that they can live and work in different places

So here is the “tethered nomad”—not entirely untethered from traditional work but not anchored firmly to an office space either. This breed of workers seeks to marry the structure of conventional employment with the autonomy of remote working. They’re crafting a hybrid existence, leveraging technology and flexible work policies to work part-time in offices and part-time in settings of their choosing.
[mbopartners.com, 12 January 2024]

See also digital nomad

About new words

kitschen noun [C or U]
/ˈkɪtʃ.ᵊn/
a trend for decorating kitchens in an unusual and interesting way, using bright colours and a mixture of objects of different styles

If you needed any more proof that minimalism was on the way out, look no further than the eclectic “kitschen” trend sweeping social media. But what exactly is “kitschen”, and how can you pull off this quirky, eccentric look in your own home? A mash-up of kitsch and kitchen, “kitschens” are all about embracing a quirky style and creating a unique, characterful kitchen – think vintage finds and a vibrant use of colour.
[housebeautiful.com, 13 February 2024]

See also kitsch

Narnia pantry noun [C]
UK /ˈnɑː.niː.ə ˌpæn.tri/ US /ˈnɑːr.niː.ə ˌpæn.tri/
a small room accessed through a door in a kitchen, used to store food, appliances etc.

But the real status symbol of the invisible kitchen is the “Narnia pantry”, where “you open a cabinet door”, explains Bune Strandh, “and it leads to a hidden utility room – for storage, extra sinks, the dishwasher – where you can get rid of everything if you’re entertaining”.
[telegraph.co.uk, 14 February 2024]

invisible kitchen noun [C]
/ɪnˌvɪz.ə.bᵊl ˈkɪtʃ.ᵊn/
a style of kitchen where appliances, accessories and other objects are hidden away inside large cupboards, making the room more spacious

Invisible kitchens are a minimalist kitchen trend, whereby conventional parts of a kitchen are housed out of sight, often in full-height cabinets. These cabinets open up to reveal kitchen pantries and breakfast bars alike, maximising your kitchen storage ideas. But, when closed, you’d be none the wiser.
[idealhome.co.uk, 6 February 2024]

About new words