treatonomics noun [U]
UK /ˌtriːtəˈnɒm.ɪks/ US /ˌtriːtəˈnɑː.mɪks/
an economic trend where people buy small, inexpensive treats during times when living costs are high and they cannot afford bigger purchases

Maybe it’s that fancy latte, a piece of dark chocolate, or a $5 snack you didn’t need but wanted. That little indulgence feels like a reward, a reset, and a reminder that joy can come in small doses. That’s treatonomics. “Treatonomics” is a consumer trend and marketing term for spending on small, affordable luxuries or experiences to gain a mood boost and combat economic anxiety.
[sunsplashmediagroup.com, 27 September 2025]

exfluencer noun [C]
UK /ˈeks.flu.ən.səʳ/ US /ˈeks.flu.ən.sɚ/
a former influencer who has stopped creating online content and promoting products on social media, and now lives a more private life

The first half of the 2020s brought an influx of people making a living recording their lives as social media influencers, but the initial descent of the decade will be distinguished by a new phenomenon: the exfluencer. The constant grind of that life has already led some prominent people to hang up their hats (or tripods) for greener pastures.
[nytimes.com, 31 December 2025]

shoppertainment noun [U]
UK /ˌʃɒp.ə.ˈteɪn.mənt/ US /ˌʃɑː.pɚˈteɪn.mənt/
a marketing approach that combines activities such as livestreams and interactive content with the process of selling products, to make shopping a fun and enjoyable experience for the consumer

Several brands are already making shoppertainment a reality. Sephora’s Virtual Artist app, for instance, allows customers to try on makeup virtually, making beauty shopping both personal and interactive. Lego’s in-store build stations engage children in creative play while their parents shop, making it a family-friendly experience.
[medium.com, 20 March 2025]

About new words

clip farming noun [U]
UK /ˈklɪp ˌfɑː.mɪŋ/ US /ˈklɪp ˌfɑːr.mɪŋ/
the act of deliberately doing or saying something shocking or dramatic in a video on social media with the aim of producing short videos that are then widely shared online

Clip farming is a debated tactic in the streaming world that is used as a growth hack for creators. At its core, clip farming is when a streamer does or says something intentionally outrageous, funny, or shocking on stream—just to get clipped and shared. It’s like clickbait, but live.
[streamlabs.com, 11 July 2025]

nuisance streamer noun [C]
UK /ˈnjuː.sᵊns ˌstriː.məʳ/ US /ˈnuː.sᵊns ˌstriː.mɚ/
a live streamer who deliberately annoys people or causes trouble in public or online in order to attract viewers and followers

The stance is growing increasingly common across East and Southeast Asia: When it comes to nuisance streamers — online personalities who livestream their travels, often leaning on transgressive behavior as a means of creating viral content — criminal behavior is being met not with slaps on the wrist or expedited deportation but with serious legal consequences.
[japantimes.co.jp, 27 December 2025]

dark social noun [U]
UK /ˌdɑːk ˈsəʊ.ʃəl/ US /ˌdɑːrk ˈsoʊ.ʃəl/
the sharing of content privately online rather than on public social media platforms, making it difficult to track where the content has come from

Public likes and comments are fading while private chats are exploding. This quiet migration has a name: dark social. Dark social isn’t as sinister as it sounds. It’s simply the collective term for private or semi-private channels where people pass links, screenshots, memes, and recommendations.
[thedigitalage.co.uk, 26 September 2025]

About new words

FOBO noun [U]
UK /ˈfəʊ.bəʊ/ US /ˈfoʊ.boʊ/
abbreviation for “fear of becoming obsolete”: a worried feeling that you may lose your job because your role can be done by AI

Rapid AI advances present an alluring opportunity for businesses to boost productivity and efficiency. But while CEOs battle their FOMO and race to adopt the new technology, their employees are experiencing a different side of the AI revolution — FOBO, the fear of becoming obsolete. It refers to workers’ fears that the speed of artificial-intelligence development is outpacing the reskilling of employees, leaving them redundant in the workplace.
[businessinsider.com, 27 January 2025]

See also FOMO

vibe revenue noun [U]
UK /ˈvaɪb ˌrev.ᵊn.juː/ US /ˈvaɪb ˌrev.ə.nuː/
money or funding that an AI company is given because people are excited about the potential of AI, rather than because the company’s products are already successful

His concerns were mirrored by the CEO of Picsart, who highlighted that many AI startups are attracting substantial funding without generating significant revenue. He referred to this trend as companies being valued based on “vibe revenue”, a term describing speculative investment rather than solid sales figures.
[benzatine.com, 13 November 2025]

bragawatts noun [plural]
UK /ˈbræg.ə.wɒts/ US /ˈbræg.ə.wɑːts/
the practice of AI companies boasting about very large projects to create excitement and attract investment, even though many of these projects are never completed

Given the practical problems and enormous costs AI data centres face, is the whole movement really one big bubble? One speaker at a recent conference coined the term “bragawatts” to describe how the industry is talking up the scale of proposed AI sites. “The current trajectory is very difficult to believe. There has certainly been a lot of bragging going on. But investment has to deliver a return or the market will correct itself.”
[bbc.co.uk/news, 23 September 2025]

About new words

bio-baiting noun [U]
UK /ˈbaɪ.əʊ.beɪtɪŋ/ US /ˈbaɪ.oʊ.beɪtɪŋ/
writing an online dating profile that makes you seem much more interesting, attractive etc. than you really are

Like catfishing, bio-baiting involves a bit of deception – but this time it’s all about overselling your dating app bio in ways that don’t quite hold up in real life. A poll found that nearly 63 per cent admitted to feeling let down after meeting someone who didn’t live up to their carefully polished dating app profile. Ultimately, the best defence against bio-baiting is to move the conversation off the app and into real life quickly.
[indy100.com, 26 September 2025]

See also catfishing

chatfishing noun [U]
/ˈtʃæt.fɪʃ.ɪŋ/
using AI tools to write messages to other people on dating apps

It’s a well-worn adage of the Internet age: people often aren’t what they seem to be online. But until recently, you could at least be assured that they were people. Now, though, “chatfishing,” a new wave of online deception, is taking over dating apps. Instead of “catfishing”—using an entirely fake identity—people are using artificial intelligence to help them chat up prospective love interests and secure dates.
[scientificamerican.com, 22 October 2025]

grim-keeping noun [U]
/ˈgrɪm.kiːpɪŋ/
forming a relationship with someone based on disliking the same things

Grim-keeping flips the script on dating compatibility. Forget matching over favorite TV shows or whether you both like long walks on the beach. This trend is about uniting over the stuff you can’t stand. From universally annoying habits to oddly specific gripes, grim-keeping makes negativity the new love language.
[huffingtonpost.co.uk, 30 October 2025]

About new words

readaway noun [C]
/ˈriːd.ə.weɪ/
a short holiday where the main activity is reading and talking about books

Weekends away have had an intellectual upgrade, where small groups of friends are now heading off for the purpose of reading and discussing literature. The Unpack 2026 report, revealing the top travel trends for the year ahead, shows “readaways” – a weekend getaway focused on reading, relaxing and quality time, is the next big thing in travel.
[thepost.co.nz, 15 October 2025]

thrift tripping noun [U]
/ˈθrɪft ˌtrɪpɪŋ/
the act of planning a holiday around visiting vintage shops, flea markets etc. to buy second-hand clothes and other items

Google search data reveals demand for market tours increased 61% over the past year, whilst location-specific vintage shopping queries have exploded. The trend, dubbed “thrift tripping,” sees travellers specifically planning destinations around vintage shops, flea markets and thrift stores.
[globetrender.com, 10 September 2025]

salvaged stay noun [C]
/ˈsæl.vɪdʒd ˌsteɪ/
an old building that has been converted from its original purpose into a hotel

“Travellers are craving more than just a place to sleep; they want a story to tell,” explains Melanie Fish, spokesperson for Expedia Group. “Salvaged stays are the perfect blend of character, culture and comfort. This year alone I’ve stayed in an old post office, a prison and a warehouse – the past definitely has a future in hospitality.”
[countryliving.com, 21 October 2025]

About new words

frost-jacking noun [U]
UK /ˈfrɒstdʒæk.ɪŋ/ US /ˈfrɑːstdʒæk.ɪŋ/
the act of stealing a car that has been left unattended with the engine running to defrost it in very cold weather

Drivers have been issued a warning after three cars were stolen during a “frost-jacking” spree in Fife on Friday. The thefts occurred between 8am and 8.50am while the vehicles were left defrosting outside properties. Detective inspector Sammi Davidson said: “With temperatures expected to remain low I would urge residents not to leave their cars unattended as it only takes seconds for an opportunist to take the vehicle.”
[news.stv.tv, November 2025]

See also carjacking

ghost charging noun [U]
UK /ˈgəʊst ˌtʃɑː.dʒɪŋ/ US /ˈgoʊst ˌtʃɑːr.dʒɪŋ/
the act of using a charging bay for an electric vehicle as a parking space and not actually charging your car while you are parked there

Ghost charging is when an EV driver uses a dedicated charging bay simply to take a handy parking space. They park up and plug in when they don’t need to charge, to the annoyance of other EV drivers who do need to charge.
[www.petalite.io, 2 April 2025]

T-plate noun [C]
/ˈtiːpleɪt/
a square, white sign with a green letter T on it, attached to the back and the front of a vehicle that is being driven by a tourist in an area where road accidents are frequent

Tourists driving in the Highlands are being encouraged to display “T-plates” in the hope it will reduce accidents. The signs are intended to alert other road users that the driver might not be familiar with Scotland’s roads. It comes after Transport Scotland warned earlier this year that the number of crashes caused by “inexperience of driving on the left” had increased sharply.
[bbc.co.uk/news, 11 September 2025]

About new words

Rad noun [C]
/ræd/
abbreviation for “rich autumn dad”: a man who dresses in the style of wealthy country gentlemen, for example wearing tweed and corduroy clothes, even if he is young and has no children

The leader of this new style pack, known among fashion watchers as the Rads, is David Beckham. The former England football captain appears in Country Life in a variety of looks including a tweed blazer and corduroy trousers. British country attire is now being embraced by men of all ages who want to emulate old money style. They may not be rich. They may not be a dad. But they can still look like a Rad.
[theguardian.com, 24 October 2025]

Gen Z stare noun [C]
UK /ˌdʒen zed ˈsteə/ US /ˌdʒen ziː ˈsteər/
a facial expression, used of young people, where the face appears blank and emotionless, generally to signal indifference or boredom

The Gen Z generation is getting a lot of press lately, sending shock waves through the work world with something called the “Gen Z stare.” It’s described as a long, blank and expressionless stare in a variety of social situations. Although many critics reduce the look to a silly, disengaged expression, experts argue that … the ‘Gen Z stare’ is more than just a viral buzzword; it is not a new problem, but it is a pervasive one, highlighting a larger issue in today’s workplace: a growing generational disconnect in employee communication and expectations.
[forbes.com, 21 July 2025]

hub-son noun [C]
/ˈhʌb.sʌn/
an adult male who continues to live with his parents, contributes little or nothing financially, but does housework and other household chores

Basically, a hub-son (a play on husband/son, obviously) is a son who lives at home with his mom/parents, holding no job other than performing traditional household tasks. Think of them like a stay-at-home tradwife, but … just an unmarried son who doesn’t want to move out of mommy’s house. But hey, in this economy, can we blame ’em?
[vice.com, 8 October 2025]

About new words