centennial noun [C]
/senˈten.i.əl/
someone who was born between the late 1990s and the early 2010s

From baby boomers, to generation X, all the way up to millennials, each age group has their own characteristics and their distinct way to act. That also applies for one of the youngest generations: centennials. But, is it really all that important? Yes! It is important in a context where centennials will make up to 27% of the job market by 2025.
[talent2win.com, 19 July 2022]

silver exodus noun [S]
UK /ˌsɪl.vər ˈek.sə.dəs/ US /ˌsɪl.vɚ ˈek.sə.dəs/
a trend in the employment market beginning in 2021 that has seen a much larger number of older people than usual stop working

If you thought it was only young people fleeing the workforce, think again. The UK is currently seeing a large number of over-50s resigning en masse from the workforce at a startling rate – known as a “silver exodus”. According to The Times newspaper, around 300,000 more workers aged between 50 and 65 are now considered “economically inactive” than before the pandemic, meaning that these older workers are neither employed nor seeking a job.
[managementtoday.co.uk, 1 June 2022]

nepo baby noun [C]
UK /ˈnep.əʊ ˌbeɪ.bi/ US /ˈnep.oʊ ˌbeɪ.bi/
the child of an actor, a musician etc. who achieves success because of their famous parent

They would just like to add that Hollywood nepotism is more complicated than it appears, and just because one is born a nepo baby does not mean they aren’t also human beings with emotions and nuanced inner lives as they navigate a harsh spotlight in the social media era and try to live up to enormous expectations.
[washingtonpost.com, 1 August 2022]

About new words

director of first impressions noun [C]
UK /dɪˈrek.tər əv ˌfɜːst ɪmˈpreʃ.ᵊnz/ US /dɪˈrek.tɚ əv ˌfɝːst ɪmˈpreʃ.ᵊnz/
someone who works in an office or hotel and whose job is to welcome and help visitors

While directors of first impressions may work under various job descriptions, they must invariably succeed at one common goal: To set a warm, friendly and competent tone for all future interactions. As the first and most public face of a company, a director of first impressions knows better than anyone that it’s not always easy to make a great first impression. It’s the unfavorable impressions that you and your staff want to avoid.
[smallbusiness.chron.com, 25 March 2022]

disco nanny noun [C]
UK /ˈdɪs.kəʊ ˌnæn.i/ US /ˈdɪs.koʊ ˌnæn.i/
someone whose job is to look after a family’s children overnight during a holiday, while the parents go out to parties and nightclubs

The 21-year-old hasn’t been partying in the island’s superclubs, but working as a “disco nanny” – a growing cohort in luxe European hotspots who watch holidaymakers’ children while the parents cut loose into the small hours. And beyond: Roig often finds herself at charges’ homes until noon the following day, when they are finally ready to face the world – and their own offspring – again.
[telegraph.co.uk, 2 September 2022]

luxury detective noun [C]
UK /ˈlʌk.ʃər.i dɪˌtek.tɪv/ US /ˈlʌk.ʃɚ.i dɪˌtek.tɪv/
someone whose job is to find rare and very expensive handbags, watches, jewellery etc. for other people to buy

From a barn in Hertfordshire, the luxury detectives at Xupes can source whichever collectible designer accessory you desire – for a price … When luxury detective Reece Morgan tells me about sourcing [a handbag] and describes how “she” was so beautiful and her presence so “alluring”, I think he must be talking about the highly demanding, wealthy customer who gets to use it. “No, I mean the bag,” he says, like I’m the mad one.
[thetimes.co.uk, 13 August 2022]

About new words

stealth help noun [U]
/ˌstelθ ˈhelp/
a type of book that uses a story or an account of someone’s experience to inspire its readers to achieve goals and overcome problems

In the aftermath of the pandemic, publishers have said that writers are leaning towards feelgood and optimistic works. One such genre is “stealth help”, which describes books that still serve to inspire readers without being as overtly remedial as traditional self-help books. Similar to memoir, the genre often deals with inspirational stories that readers can take heart from.
[thetimes.co.uk, 20 August 2022]

sibling novel noun [C]
UK /ˈsɪb.lɪŋ ˌnɒv.ᵊl/ US /ˈsɪb.lɪŋ ˌnɑː.vᵊl/
a novel that features some of the same characters as another novel by the same author, but is not a sequel or part of a series

In her typically inventive fashion, Jennifer Egan calls The Candy House, the follow-up to her Pulitzer Prize winner A Visit from the Goon Squad (2011), a “sibling novel”. According to Egan, The Candy House follows a number of [A Visit from the Goon Squad’s] peripheral characters into their own futures and pasts to create an independent work with a new set of preoccupations and center of gravity, but equal affinity for technology, humor, and structural freedom.
[theconversation.com, 26 April 2022]

romantasy noun [U]
UK /rəʊmˈæn.tə.si/ US /roʊmˈæn.tə.si/
a type of book that is part romance and part fantasy

Rosie is a distinctively talented author, and this is a once-in-a-lifetime acquisition. Sixteen Souls is a swoony romantasy where Rosie has intricately plotted a stunning mystery with a fantastically diverse cast of characters. With Rosie’s TikTok platform and job as a bookseller, she has a masterful understanding of the YA market and is uniquely placed to reach a strikingly engaged readership.
[thebookseller.com, 22 August 2022]

About new words

micromobility noun [U]
UK /ˈmaɪ.krəʊ.məʊˌbɪl.ə.ti/ US /ˈmaɪ.kroʊ.moʊˌbɪl.ə.t̬i/
the use of small electric vehicles such as e-scooters, normally used for travelling short distances within towns and cities

Micromobility devices may be privately owned, but are often shared-use vehicles that are maintained by a municipal government or private entity. Micromobility devices are particularly appealing to residents of densely populated areas, as they provide quick and convenient transportation to nearby destinations such as grocery stores, shops, or entertainment venues.
[digi.com, 10 March 2022]

moth motorway noun [C]
UK /ˌmɒθ ˈməʊ.tə.weɪ / US /ˌmɑːθ ˈmoʊ.t̬ɚ.weɪ/
a way of guiding endangered species of moth to an area where they will be able to survive

Scientists are to create “moth motorways” to provide an easier journey for insects migrating north as they try to escape the effects of climate change. University researchers combined data with computer simulations in an attempt to predict the movement of moths in a changing climate … “Utilising predictions like these would enable us to effectively create ‘moth motorways’, helping endangered species reach more suitable regions more quickly in their bid to survive.”
[www.telegraph.co.uk, 22 May 2022]

hoverbike noun [C]
UK /ˈhɒv.ə.baɪk/ US /ˈhʌ.vɚ.baɪk/
a vehicle that travels in the air and looks like a motorbike

The flying motorbike is officially here! Japan’s new US$700,000 hoverbike, the XTurismo Limited Edition, targets supercar drivers – but it’s so loud that bystanders have to wear earplugs … The hoverbike joins other gadgets like jetpacks and flying taxis – but can it give Japan a technological edge over self-driving and electric cars?
[scmp.com, 27 October 2021]

About new words

quiet quitting noun [U]
UK /ˌkwaɪ.ət ˈkwɪtɪŋ/ US /ˌkwaɪ.ət ˈkwɪt̬ɪŋ/
the activity of doing the minimum amount of work needed to keep one’s job but with no enthusiasm or commitment

Widely associated with employee burnout, the idea of ‘quiet quitting’ – where employees become disengaged from work and do the bare minimum of their duties – has recently attracted a flurry of attention … So, recognising quiet quitting, whether it is seen as a serious sign of employee dissatisfaction or simply the concept that work should not take over one’s entire life, is now more important than ever.
[peoplemanagement.co.uk, 8 August 2022]

anti-procrastination café noun [C]
UK /ˌæn.ti.prəˌkræs.tɪˈneɪ.ʃən ˌkæf.eɪ/ US /æn.t̬i.proʊˌkræs.tɪˈneɪ.ʃən kæfˈeɪ/
a café where people who have an urgent deadline can work, with employees checking regularly that they are working and not allowing them to leave until they have finished

I have a confession to make: I’ve never had a healthy relationship with deadlines. I never managed to kick the bad habits I picked up as a student, which have left me with perpetually dark circles under my eyes from frenetic, caffeine-induced all-nighters, so you can imagine how intrigued I was by the so-called anti-procrastination café.
[timeout.com, 30 May 2022]

momtern noun [C]
UK /mɒmˈtɜːn/ US /mɑːmˈtɝːn/
a woman who does work experience in a company with the aim of returning to paid employment after a period of staying at home with her children

The internship can be fully remote, hybrid, or in person, leaving the preference up to the mother. The job pays $25 an hour and interns will work on real client briefs for the agency. Weekly hours will vary for each momtern and be based on whatever works best for their schedule.
[www.mullenlowegroup.com, 16 June 2022]

About new words

disloyalty card noun [C]
UK /dɪsˈlɔɪ.əl.ti ˌkɑːd/ US /dɪsˈlɔɪ.əl.ti ˌkɑːrd/
a card that is given to a customer by a group of similar businesses, used to reward the customer for buying goods at any of the businesses and not just one

“Through the disloyalty card that is a part of the campaign, every card holder will earn a stamp for every coffee bought at any of the outlets. The card with the completed number of stamps will entitle the card holder to a free coffee at the first cafe they visited.” … The campaign is aimed to increase awareness of independent authentic coffee makers in the respective market and to increase targeted footfall in the respective participating cafes.
[jewelcoffee.com, 27 August 2021]

inactivist noun [C]
UK /ɪnˈæk.tɪ.vɪst/ US /ɪnˈæk.tə.vɪst/
a person who does not believe that political or social change is worth the effort

As many people now see climate change as the most important issue we currently face, anti-environmentalism has had a facelift. … Climate inactivists claim that government plans to tackle carbon emissions are overly ambitious, expensive and undemocratic. They form part of a growing movement that poses a serious risk to the UK achieving its climate goals.
[nesta.org.uk, 18 January 2022]

anti-ambition noun [U]
UK /ˌæn.ti.æmˈbɪʃ.ᵊn/ US /ˌæn.t̬i.æmˈbɪʃ.ᵊn/
the lack of any strong wish to achieve something

A recent Twitter thread from strategic researcher Victoria Buchanan examined a growing trend among young people on social media toward anti-ambition … Appearing to support this further, a Randstad report in April revealed that 56% of 18–24-year-olds surveyed would rather be unemployed than work in a job that restricts their lifestyle.
[hrmagazine.co.uk, 17 January 2022]

About new words

superskinny noun [C]
UK /ˌsuː.pə.ˈskɪn.i/ US /ˌsuː.pɚ.ˈskɪn.i/
a very thin skyscraper

‘Superskinnies’ are changing urban skylines and the Steinway Tower in New York is the slimmest (so far), with a height-to-width ratio of 24:1. The views are staggering, as they should be at $26 million an apartment.
[thetimes.co.uk, 9 July 2022]

sidescraper noun [C]
UK /ˈsaɪd.skreɪ.pəʳ/ US /ˈsaɪd.skreɪ.pɚ/
a very long, narrow building that looks like a skyscraper lying on its side

If completed, the Mirror Line sidescraper will run from the Gulf of Aqaba, bisecting a mountain range that extends along the coast. The mirrored building will continue east through a mountain resort and complex housing Saudi’s government, WSJ report cited the planning documents.
[hindustantimes.com, 26 July 2022]

barkitecture noun [U]
UK /ˈbɑː.kɪ.tek.tʃəʳ/ US /ˈbɑːr.kə.tek.tʃɚ/
the art and practice of designing a house or the inside of a house around the needs of one’s pets

The key to good ‘barkitecture’ is that you can’t tell it’s designed for pets, says Nathan Cuttle, founder of New York-based Studio Nato. ‘We find that animal-centric design tends to be best when it’s incorporated as part of the greater design of the home,’ he explains. ‘This means finding ways to incorporate it into the furniture and the fabric of the home as much as possible.’
[livingetc.com, 19 June 2022]

About new words

sea allotment noun [C]
UK /ˈsiː əˌlɒt.mənt/ US /ˈsiː əˌlɑːt.mənt/
a small area of the sea that someone rents for growing shellfish, edible seaweed etc.

As with land-based allotments, members of a sea allotment society share an area granted to them by local authorities and use it to cultivate food. The difference is that instead of a field, growers share a patch of the ocean. In the case of Kerteminde Maritime Haver, it is the Great Belt – the strait between Funen island and Denmark’s capital island, Zealand. Here, ropes strung between buoys are hung with mussels and sea kelp.
[theguardian.com, 25 June 2022]

robo-fish noun [C]
UK /ˈrəʊ.bəʊˌfɪʃ/ US /ˈroʊ.boʊˌfɪʃ/
a very small robot that looks like a fish, designed to remove very small pieces of plastic from the seas and oceans

Engineers at the Polymer Research Institute of Sichuan University have devised a tiny robo-fish that can flap around a body of water, grabbing microplastics as it goes. The 13mm robot uses a light laser system in its tail to propel itself at approximately 30mm a second. If the robot experiences damage during a swim, it can repair itself and continue the job without outside intervention.
[extremetech.com, 23 June 2022]

crab-bot noun [C]
UK /ˈkræbˌbɒt/ US /ˈkræbˌbɑːt/
a very small robot that looks like a crab, designed to enter the human body

The inventors of a flea-sized robot crab have suggested that future versions could travel through the arteries of patients with heart disease to clear blockages. Measuring about half a millimetre across, the “crab-bot” is said to be the smallest remote-controlled walking robot. It can scurry sideways, turn and jump.
[thetimes.co.uk, 26 May 2022]

About new words

cash stuffing noun [C]
/ˈkæʃ ˌstʌf.ɪŋ/
the practice of saving cash in a different envelope for each type of bill or purchase

Inspired by Tik Tok influencers, one money trend that seems new, but is actually a throwback to simpler times, is “cash stuffing.” It’s pretty much what it sounds like: dividing up your income into physical envelopes marked for different expense categories and stuffing them with money. “Cash stuffing is a financial strategy that involves saving cash instead of investing it in order to best inflation,” says Harry Turner from an investing and trading education website.
[gobankingrates.com, 16 May 2022]

hypermiling noun [U]
UK /ˈhaɪ.pəˌmaɪ.lɪŋ/ US /ˈhaɪ.pɚˌmaɪ.lɪŋ/
a way of driving that uses various techniques to minimise the amount of fuel used

Some motoring experts have highlighted hypermiling as being one of the key resources in helping to combat the sharp rise in fuel costs. In some instances, using simple hypermiling techniques can help cut petrol and diesel usage by up to 40 percent.
[dailypost.co.uk, 8 June 2022]

frugaller noun [C]
UK /ˈfruː.gəl.əʳ/ US /ˈfruː.gəl.ɚ/
someone who tries very hard to avoid wasting food or other resources and spends as little money as possible

She stores carrots in water so they don’t go bendy, and she puts kitchen roll in the salad bag to stop leaves drooping. She also plans meals, so never buys something she already has. Some extreme frugallers take this one step further by keeping inventory lists. This means they can be confident they have supplies to fall back on if an unexpected bill comes in.
[theguardian.com, 4 June 2022]

About new words