funwashing noun [U]
UK /ˈfʌn.wɒʃ.ɪŋ/ US /ˈfʌn.wɑː.ʃɪŋ/
the practice of someone taking part in a popular event or show, appearing on television, etc. as a way to improve their reputation with the public

At the same time, former UK Independence Party leader Nigel Farage benefits from the same “funwashing” on “I’m a Celebrity Get me out of Here!” as Pauline Hanson, leader of the most successful extreme right party in Australia in recent years, did when she was invited on “Dancing with the Stars” just a moment after her political career plummeted.
[thewire.in, 27 November 2023]

See also -washing, greenwashing, sportswashing

screenwashing noun [U]
UK /ˈskriːn.wɒʃ.ɪŋ/ US /ˈskriːn.wɑː.ʃɪŋ/
the practice of someone appearing on a popular television programme as a way to improve their reputation with the general public

We need a word for the way political figures who have done terrible things are rehabilitated by television. So here’s a candidate: Screenwashing… Screenwashing induces us to forget or trivialise what these people did when they were in politics. It wipes the public memory clean. If you seek to remind people what these figures did when they were in politics, you are considered a spoilsport, a killjoy. This is the way the world ends: not with a bang but a bant.

[twitter.com/GeorgeMonbiot, 29 November 2022]

wokewashing noun [U]
UK /ˈwəʊk.wɒʃ.ɪŋ/ US /ˈwoʊk.wɑː.ʃɪŋ/
behaviour or activities to make people believe that a company cares more about social problems such as racism and inequality than it really does

Enter wokewashing. In this phase, brands are co-opting social justice issues like anti-racism, feminism, inequality and mental health awareness. They align themselves with trending socially conscious and cultural issues. Meanwhile, some of the same (or similar) issues they speak up against are being perpetrated within their own company and their supply chains. Such is the dubious art of wokewashing.
[ecostyles.com.au, 23 February 2022]

About new words

house hushing noun [U]
/ˈhaʊs hʌʃ.ɪŋ/
decorating your house using pale, neutral colours and not filling it with too many objects, so that it feels calm and relaxing

Brits are looking to their homes to provide some much-needed tranquillity. Enter “house hushing”, an organised exercise in decluttering and “noise” reduction that claims to instil a sense of calm into any home, and even improve your emotional wellbeing. House hushing can help to reorganise a space, creating a softer, quieter, more relaxing environment, which clears headspace and helps us to feel less stressed.
[ha-w.co.uk, undated]

appliance garage noun [C]
UK /əˈplaɪ.əns ˌgær.ɑːʒ/ US /əˈplaɪ.əns gəˌrɑːʒ/
a cupboard in the kitchen used for storing equipment that would normally be kept on the worktop, such as the food mixer, toaster, coffee maker etc.

Appliance garages come in all shapes, sizes and designs, from those designed to run from floor to ceiling, to designs that span from the worktop upwards. They can be classic or contemporary in their looks and are usually designed to tie in with the other kitchen units in the space.
[homebuilding.co.uk, 20 December 2022]

friendlord noun [C]
UK /ˈfrend.lɔːd/ US /ˈfrend.lɔːrd/
someone who rents out a room in their house to a friend

There’s limited data on friendlords, but we know the number of homeowners taking in lodgers has tripled in the last ten years. Housing expert Vicky Spratt notes: “Troublingly, such agreements are as commonplace as they are flimsy, with homeowners from younger generations renting out rooms to lodgers and friends to cover their mortgages.”
[thelead.uk, 26 January 2023]

About new words

broken rung noun [C, usually S]
UK /ˌbrəʊ.kᵊn ˈrʌŋ/ US /ˌbroʊ.kᵊn ˈrʌŋ/
the situation where someone can progress quickly in the early stages of their career but finds it difficult to get a more senior post

Although women have made gains in representation at the senior level, advancements are slower at the manager and director levels. “The ‘broken rung’ is the biggest barrier to women’s advancement,” said Rachel Thomas, Lean In’s CEO and co-founder. “Companies are effectively leaving women behind from the very beginning of their careers, and women can never catch up.”
[cnbc.com, 18 October 2023]

See also glass ceiling

exhaustion gap noun [C, usually S]
UK /ɪgˈzɔːs.tʃᵊn ˌgæp/ US /ɪgˈzɑː.tʃᵊn ˌgæp/
the situation where women are generally more tired than men, said to be because women have to do more housework, childcare, etc. in addition to their job

The exhaustion gap is a term that refers to the overwhelming impact of work (both in the office world and at home) exhaustion on women, pointing to stats that show women are more likely to experience burnout and stress as they juggle the demands of their careers with household and caregiving responsibilities.
[stylist.co.uk, September 2023]

gender tenure gap noun [C, usually S]
UK /ˌdʒen.də ˈten.jə ˌgæp/ US /ˌdʒen.dɚ ˈten.jɚ ˌgæp/
the situation where women hold very senior jobs for a shorter time than men

Female CEOs typically have shorter tenures compared to their male counterparts, a new study has found. This “gender tenure gap” sees women leading companies on stock exchanges around the world such as the FTSE 100 and ASX 200 for shorter periods than male leaders.
[womensagenda.com.au, 6 November 2023]

About new words

hortifuturism noun [U]
UK /ˌhɔː.tɪˈfjuː.tʃᵊr.ɪ.zᵊm/ US /ˌhɔːr.t̬əˈfjuː.tʃɚ.ɪ.zᵊm/
a style of garden design that is often inspired by science fiction, featuring unusual plants, very bright colours and lighting that makes the garden look attractive at night

Expect to see bold and bright colors in 2024 with gardens that look straight out of a science fiction movie. Coined “hortifuturism” by Garden Media, the trend replaces cold, metallic hues with vibrant color. With this trend, the brand anticipates more terrariums, survivalist gardens, night gardens, neon-colored plants, and foliage with bright variegation.
[marthastewart.com, 27 October 2023]

electroculture gardening noun [U]
UK /iˈlek.trəʊˌkʌl.tʃə ˈgɑː.dᵊn.ɪŋ/ US /iˈlek.troʊˌkʌl.tʃɚ ˈgɑːr.dᵊn.ɪŋ/
a technique that involves putting metal that conducts electricity into the soil, which is thought to send electrical currents from the air to the plants, making them grow more quickly and produce bigger and healthier crops

YouTube and TikTok is alive with videos of gardeners using basic materials, like copper (pipes or wire), galvanised wire, and/or magnets, to vitalize the soil and reporting yield increases of 100%–300%. Electroculture gardening has been explained as: “it is not electricity as we know it, but a breath of energy, which stimulates and increases the vitality of the soil.” The process is a methodology to enhance the earth’s natural magnetism to benefit your plants.
[futuregarden.co.uk, 9 June 2023]

edimental noun [C]
/ˌed.iˈmen.tᵊl/
a plant that is both edible and ornamental, and usually lives for several years

Harry Holding created an entire show garden at this year’s Chelsea Flower Show based around the concept of edimentals. He explains the concept thus. “Edimentals are in the sweet spot of plants that both look nice, are edible, and generally live for three years or longer. Traditional food growing is more of a seasonal annual cycle, but with edimentals, once you’ve planted it or sown seeds, they are resilient and have longevity.”
[houseandgarden.co.uk, 28 June 2023]

About new words