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]

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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]

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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