Slowvember noun [C, usually S]
UK /sləʊˈvem.bər/ US /sloʊˈvem.bər/
a movement that encourages people not to spend money excessively during the Christmas season, especially in a way that is harmful to the environment

Originally a creative challenge, compelling artists to spend the whole month slowly crafting something beautiful, the concept of Slowvember has more recently been adopted by green-thinking retailers. Thus the aim of Slowvember is to stop before you shop and support sustainable fashion, specifically in the face of Black Friday and the manufactured hype of over-consumerism.
[lerinslondon.com, 4 November 2022]

See also Black Friday

Christmas creep noun [U]
/ˈkrɪs.məs ˌkriːp/
the trend where Christmas-related goods, music, advertising etc. appear earlier every year

A Guardian analysis shows that the Grinch-like grumble that “Christmas is getting earlier every year” is actually justified. Figures from major supermarkets, local news bulletins and the UK Top 40 charts confirm what members of the public have long suspected: that the slow and steady takeover of the calendar by Christmas-themed items, songs and adverts – a phenomenon known as “Christmas creep” – is in fact real.
[theguardian.com, 28 October 2024]

Thanksmas noun [C]
/ˈθæŋks.məs/
a celebration that takes place on a date between Thanksgiving and Christmas

Thanksmas is a great occasion to bring family together. With a big family, expanded by in-laws, you may have many Thanksgiving or Christmas day invitations vying for your RSVP. Having a Thanksmas party is a great way to see those you won’t be able to see on Thanksgiving or Christmas.
[dailymom.com, no date]

About new words

dadcast noun [C]
UK /ˈdæd.kɑːst/ US /ˈdæd.kæst/
a podcast created by a father that discusses topics thought to be of interest to other fathers, such as parenting and family life

Welcome to the age of the “dadcast”: ubiquitous, lucrative – and a bit boring … The entrepreneurial spirit that sparked the dadcast revolution is not objectionable in itself. But there is something deadening about the way it reveals the podcast market to be going.
[theguardian.com, 30 January 2024]

Zalpha noun [C]
/ˈzæl.fə/
someone who was born during a time period between the end of Generation Z and the beginning of Generation Alpha

You may have heard of Generation Z and Generation Alpha, but have you heard of a Zalpha? A Zalpha is a term used to describe those born on the cusp of these two generations. They embody a blend of characteristics and experiences from both Generation Z, who grew up during the digital age and witnessed the rise of social media, and Generation Alpha, who are considered true digital natives, having been born into a world with even more advanced technology.
[mccrindle.com.au, 20 November 2023]

club sandwich generation noun [S]
UK /ˌklʌb ˈsæn.wɪdʒ dʒen.əˈreɪ.ʃᵊn/ US /ˌklʌb ˈsæn.wɪtʃ dʒen.əˈreɪ.ʃᵊn/
a way of referring to the group of people who have parents, children and also grandparents or grandchildren to take care of

The term “sandwich generation” was coined in 1981 by social workers. What I also see in my clinic is what Carol Abaya, an elder care expert, calls the “club sandwich generation”. This refers to adults who are supporting their ageing parents, their adult children and young grandchildren. This also includes a section of young people, who are supporting their parents, their grandparents and their own children.
[lifestyle.livemint.com, 12 April 2024]

See also club sandwich, sandwich generation

About new words

paycation noun [C]
/peɪ.ˈkeɪ.ʃən/
a job that allows someone to work remotely while visiting other cities and countries

In the wake of the pandemic, a seismic shift occurred in the realm of work and travel. Companies were forced into flexible work policies allowing employees to work from anywhere with an internet connection. Now, in 2024, they’re calling it a paycation, a trend that allows seekers to blend their professional (or entrepreneurial) responsibilities with a desire to explore the world.
[ytravelblog.com, 28 April 2024]

Quit-Tok noun [U]
UK /ˈkwɪt.tɒk/ US /ˈkwɪt.tɑːk/
a trend on TikTok where people post videos about quitting their job, often commenting on the lack of job satisfaction or work–life balance that was the reason for their resignation

Quit-Tok refers to the trend of employees, primarily Generation Z, sharing videos of their resignation or layoff stories publicly … on TikTok. These videos often capture the raw emotion of the moment, from the tense build-up to the liberating feeling of finally quitting a job. Quit-Tok videos vary in format, from filming live Zoom resignations to documenting the moment a resignation letter is handed in.
[peoplemattersglobal.com, 10 August 2024]

hushed hybrid noun [U]
/ˌhʌʃt ˈhaɪ.brɪd/
a way of working that involves someone dividing their time between working in the office and working remotely, without formal agreement from their employer

In order to keep their best employees, some companies are opting for stealth tactics. Enter the rise of “hushed hybrid”, where bosses allow some employees to carry on working from home – even if company policy states otherwise. The downside of hushed hybrid is that it can introduce an unfair bias where some teams or workers appear to be favoured and get special treatment over others.
[metro.co.uk, 26 September 2024]

About new words

BIN attack noun [C]
/ˈbɪn əˌtæk/
abbreviation for “bank identification number attack”: a type of fraud where the first six digits of a credit card are used to generate a large number of possible credit card numbers, with any valid numbers being used to pay for goods illegally

Unlike card cracking, where a stolen list of valid credit cards is used, BIN attacks use automated bots and scripts to generate countless payment card numbers randomly, iterating through valid BINs and trying random account digits. These bots also attempt to bypass security controls, such as verification of payment card number checks.
[fingerprint.com, 14 February 2024]

TOAD attack noun [C]
UK /ˈtəʊd əˌtæk/ US /ˈtoʊd əˌtæk/
abbreviation for “telephone-oriented attack delivery attack”: a type of fraud where a criminal contacts someone by phone, text or email and tricks them into giving information such as passwords, bank account details etc.

Although the phrase “TOAD attack” may sound bizarre, it’s a descriptor for a dangerous new attack type plaguing businesses. TOAD stands for telephone-oriented attack delivery, a form of multi-layered phishing attack that combines elements like text or instant message, voice, or email with social engineering to trick users into disclosing proprietary, personal, or financial data.
[itpro.com, 13 May 2024]

MITM attack noun [C]
/ˌem.aɪ.tiːˈem əˌtæk/
abbreviation for “man-in-the-middle attack”: a type of fraud where a criminal accesses communication between two other people without either of the other people knowing, then steals information such as bank account details

Another common source of MITM attacks is public wifi hotspots. Public wifi routers have fewer security protocols than home or workplace wifi routers. This makes it easier for nearby users to connect with the network. But it also makes it easier for hackers to compromise the router so they can eavesdrop on internet traffic and collect user data.
[ibm.com, 11 June 2024]

About new words

rucking noun [U]
/ˈrʌk.ɪŋ/
a type of exercise that involves walking while wearing a very heavy rucksack or backpack

Taking things to the next level, rucking involves walking or hiking with a weighted backpack for a low impact workout aimed at improving strength and cardiovascular fitness. This slow-burning workout is by no means new, resurging from military training as a trusted method to improve fitness.
[until.co.uk, 19 January 2024]

runglasses noun [plural]
UK /ˈrʌnˌglɑː.sɪz/ US /ˈrʌnˌglæs.ɪz/
a style of sunglasses that people sometimes wear when they are running

You were glued to the women’s 100m final last night and are eagerly awaiting the heptathlon — is it time to hit the track yourself? Maybe not, but why not steal your favourite athlete’s look instead? “Runglasses”, those visor-style shades that the world’s speediest can’t get enough of, are turning out to be the summer accessory and are already a hit on the festival scene.
[thetimes.com, 4 August 2024]

VILPA noun [U]
/ˈvɪl.pə/
abbreviation for: vigorous intermittent lifestyle physical activity: a way of keeping fit that involves short periods of very energetic exercise as part of your everyday life, such as climbing stairs or walking instead of taking a bus

Taking the stairs instead of the elevator, carrying groceries, vacuuming and washing floors, or playing with the kids are just some of the activities that could be considered VILPA. Just put a little more oomph into your activity to raise your heart rate for a minute or so and those chores turn into VILPA gold.
[until.co.uk, 19 January 2024]

About new words

thinification noun [U]
UK /ˌθɪn.ɪ.fɪˈkeɪ.ʃᵊn/ US /ˌθɪn.ɪ.fɪˈkeɪ.ʃᵊn/
the process by which devices such as mobile phones and smartwatches are increasingly being designed to be as thin as possible

Remember when phone makers were racing to make their phones as thin as possible? The trend slowed down considerably in the past couple of years, but it appears Apple is about to bring it back in a big way. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple isn’t done with the thinification of its product portfolio. Gurman claims that Apple plans to launch a “significantly skinnier” phone in 2025. The company is also reportedly working on making its MacBook Pro, as well as Apple Watch, thinner.
[mashable.com, 17 June 2024]

appification noun [U]
UK /ˌæp.ɪ.fɪˈkeɪ.ʃᵊn/ US /ˌæp.ə.fɪˈkeɪ.ʃᵊn/
the process by which information, services etc. are increasingly accessed through mobile apps rather than through computer programs or traditional websites

The appification of life has been so subtle that it’s easy to miss the essential pillars. They are dependence and convergence. Dependence, because there’s no other way. You can’t pay cash, no one answers the phone and it’s increasingly hard to pay for anything without a tiresome struggle not to give up your own personal information. App developers know that machines are more patient than humans: they’re counting on you to run out of resilience and cough it all up eventually.
[newstatesman.com, 22 May 2024]

nomadification noun [U]
UK /nəʊ.ˌmæd.ɪ.fɪˈkeɪ.ʃᵊn/ US /noʊ.ˌmæd.ə.fɪˈkeɪ.ʃᵊn/
the process by which people are becoming more mobile, often moving to different cities and countries and working remotely rather than living and working in one place for a long time

Medellín is still in the early stages of nomadification — the last year has seen a boom in arrivals, according to data collected by Nomad List. In some hot spots, nomads are starting to meet greater resistance. In Latin America, Mexico City is the epicenter of the nomad boom. Relaxed Covid-19 policies in 2021 led to a rush of influencers advertising the lifestyle.
[restofworld.org, 23 May 2023]

See also digital nomad

About new words

anti-airport dad noun [C]
UK /ˈæn.tiˌeə.pɔːt dæd/ US /ˈæn.t̬iˌer.pɔːrt dæd/
the father of a family who has a relaxed attitude towards travel, often arriving at the airport with very little time to spare or almost missing their flight, or anyone who behaves in this way when travelling with a group

Just like being an airport dad, being an anti-airport dad is a lifestyle. This trend has recently started growing on TikTok as a response to the thousands of videos showcasing their hyper-organized dads. The claim is simple: not every dad is, in fact, on top of it when it comes to traveling. Some of them are just chaos, hence the anti-airport dad … An anti-airport dad can be easily recognized by the use of one specific catchphrase: “I’ve got plenty of time.”
[thrillist.com, 29 June 2023]

See also airport dad

skiplagging noun [U]
/ˈskɪp.læg.ɪŋ/
a way to save money that involves booking a flight with a stopover but deliberately not getting back on the plane for the final part of the journey

Skiplagging is buying a ticket for a connecting flight, with a layover in the city that’s the real destination for the traveler. Flyers disembark after the first leg and simply fail to board the second. Often the fare is cheaper than if they’d actually bought a direct flight to their desired destination. At least two websites now help unearth these deals for consumers.
[nytimes.com, 8 August 2023]

justication noun [C]
UK /ˌdʒʌs.tɪ.ˈkeɪ.ʃᵊn/ US /ˌdʒʌs.tə.ˈkeɪ.ʃᵊn/
a holiday you justify to yourself that you need even though there are good reasons not to take it, such as not being able to afford it

The latest buzzword capturing attention is “justication,” which combines “justify” and “vacation.” The concept of “justication” refers to taking a vacation despite financial constraints or other reasons that might typically discourage travel. This trend is increasingly common … many travelers justify their trips due to a strong desire for a break, even if it strains their budgets.
[exoticplacestotravel.com, 31 July 2024]

About new words