femgore noun [U]
UK /ˈfem.gɔːʳ/ US /ˈfem.gɔːr/
horror stories focusing on female characters who commit acts of violence rather than being the victims

Historically, horror has often cast women as passive victims—screaming final girls, damsels in distress, or helpless figures of innocence. In contrast, femgore puts women in control of the narrative. These are stories where the female protagonist doesn’t run from the monster—she is the monster.
[vocal.media, 19 April 2025]

litRPG noun [U]
UK /ˈlɪt.ɑː.piːˌdʒiː/ US /ˈlɪt.ɑːr.piːˌdʒiː/
stories that are set in the world of a role-playing game, where characters can progress through levels and gain points in the same way as someone playing a real video game

LitRPG, short for Literary Role Playing Game, brings the strategic elements of role-playing games to science fiction and fantasy. These stories feature game-like mechanics and mirror the progression-based nature of RPGs … In litRPG novels, characters aren’t just wandering aimlessly in a game; they live, breathe, and are often acutely aware of the RPG mechanics at play. In fact, their success hinges on mastering these very game elements.
[campfirewriting.com, 20 November 2024]

See also RPG

hopepunk noun [U]
UK /ˈhəʊp.pʌŋk/ US /ˈhoʊp.pʌŋk/
stories that focus on optimism, kindness and positivity in the face of challenges

Enter hopepunk books, a rising literary genre that’s capturing hearts with its radical optimism, defiant kindness, and belief in the power of human connection. If you’re looking for stories that celebrate empathy, resilience, and the fight for a better future, hopepunk novels are your next must-reads.
[https://nickycammarata.medium.com/, 24 February 2025]

About new words

recession blonde noun [U]
UK /rɪˌseʃ.ᵊn ˈblɒnd/ US /rɪˌseʃ.ᵊn ˈblɑːnd/
a darker shade of blonde hair that costs less to maintain because it needs fewer visits to the hairdresser

Recession blonde refers to the darker, more brown-tinted hue that many are letting grow in with their normally bright, golden strands. TikTok users explain that while it may look like “old-money blonde,” letting their natural roots grow actually points to how the economy is affecting their spending habits; many are opting out of their touch-up appointments to save money.
[vogue.com, 17 March 2025]

meta face noun [U]
UK /ˈmet.ə feɪs/ US /ˈmet̬.ə feɪs/
a trend where photos that have been enhanced using AI technology make everyone look similarly flawless and unrealistically beautiful

The rise of the “meta face” reflects a broader trend towards digital hyper-perfection in beauty standards. AI technology has the potential to democratize beauty but also risks reinforcing exclusive and unrealistic ideals … Emphasizing authenticity and diversity can help counteract the negative effects of the “meta face” trend.
[insighttrendsworld.com, 3 February 2025]

butter skin noun [U]
UK /ˈbʌt.ə skɪn/ US /ˈbʌt̬.ɚ skɪn/
a beauty trend where skincare and makeup products are used to create a very soft, smooth and glowing complexion

If you’re on social media, you’ll be familiar with the term “butter skin”. For the uninitiated, the trend, which depicts a smooth, butter-like skin finish, has been making waves online, with TikTokers showing how to recreate the soft-focus look via certain make-up techniques, smooth application and skincare steps.
[elle.com, 9 April 2025]

About new words

advergame noun [C]
UK /ˈæd.və.ɡeɪm/ US /ˈæd.vɚ.ɡeɪm/
an advertisement that takes the form of a video game

Disney is sprinkling a new kind of playable ad across Hulu and ESPN. The new ad format, called “advergames,” will let you interact with the ads using your remote. You might see two different advergames to start: Quiz Show and Beat the Clock.
[theverge.com, 14 June 2024]

SoLoMo noun [U]
UK /ˈsəʊ.ləʊ.məʊ/ US /ˈsoʊ.loʊ.moʊ/
abbreviation for social, local, and mobile: a marketing strategy where information and offers about local companies and services are sent to people on social media or to their mobile phones

SoLoMo is not just a marketing buzzword, but a powerful strategy that can help businesses connect with consumers more effectively in today’s digital world. Harnessing the combined power of social media, local targeting and mobile marketing can give businesses a competitive edge and help drive growth.
[mailrelay.com, 20 November 2024]

GEO noun [U]
UK /ˌdʒiː.iːˈəʊ/ US /ˌdʒiː.iːˈoʊ/
the practice of creating content that search engines using AI can understand

Are you familiar with the term “generative engine optimization,” or GEO? Although relatively new, this acronym may become 2025’s biggest marketing buzzword. Here’s why: Gemini, ChatGPT and other large language models play an increasingly important role in search, and GEO is the process of optimizing online content to influence them.
[forbes.com, 31 January 2025]

About new words

mirror life noun [U]
UK /ˈmɪr.ə ˌlaɪf/ US /ˈmɪr.ɚ ˌlaɪf/
a form of life based on molecules whose structure is the reverse of those found in life on Earth

Efforts to create ‘mirror life’ – life whose building blocks have the opposite handedness to life on Earth – should be halted, an international group of experts has recommended. While the ability to create such lifeforms is likely many years away, the researchers say that work towards making them should be stopped until there is ‘compelling evidence’ that they won’t cause harm.
[chemistryworld.com, 18 December 2024]

electric plastic noun [U]
UK /ɪˌlek.trɪk ˈplæs.tɪk/ US /ɪˌlek.trɪk ˈplæs.tɪk/
a type of plastic that can conduct electricity

Finding ways to connect the human body to technology could have broad applications in health and entertainment. A new “electric plastic” could make self-powered wearables, real-time neural interfaces, and medical implants that merge with our bodies a reality.
[singularityhub.com, 25 October 2025]

jelly battery noun [C]
UK /ˈdʒel.i ˌbæt.ər.i/ US /ˈdʒel.i ˌbæt̬.ɚ.i/
a type of battery that is soft and stretchy because it is made of a gel-like substance

Researchers from our department have developed soft, stretchable ‘jelly batteries’ that could be used for wearable devices or soft robotics, or even implanted in the brain to deliver drugs or treat conditions such as epilepsy. The self-healing jelly batteries can stretch to over ten times their original length without affecting their conductivity – the first time that such stretchability and conductivity has been combined in a single material.
[ch.cam.ac.uk, 17 July 2024]

About new words

DeFi noun [U]
/ˈdiːˌfaɪ/
abbreviation of deregulated finance: a financial system that uses cryptocurrency, rather than traditional banks, to allow people and companies to buy and sell products and services from each other

The traditional banking system is difficult to access for unbanked and underbanked populations around the world, often due to geographic, economic and documentation barriers. DeFi makes financial services available to anyone with an internet connection and a digital wallet.
[forbes.com, 25 September 2024]

intention economy noun [U]
UK /ɪnˈten.ʃən iˌkɒn.ə.mi/ US /ɪnˈten.ʃən iˌkɑː.nə.mi/
a system in which AI learns what people are likely to want to buy or do in the future, with companies using the information to create corresponding products and services

In other words, in the intention economy, companies will learn what you think about and what motivates you in order to predict what you may do in any given situation. They will then sell that information to others who can benefit from knowing your future actions before you make them. The way intention economy companies will collect such precious data — your very thoughts, behaviors, and their evolution over time — is by your use of their LLM-powered AI chatbots.
[fastcompany.com, 25 January 2025]

wealthtech noun [U]
/ˈwelθtek/
the use of technology to help people manage, and increase, the money they have invested

The demand for transformational financial services capabilities will drive growth of more than $6 billion in the global wealthtech solutions market, according to a new report. Wealthtech solutions typically work with robo-advisors, digital platforms, and fintech applications, enabling them to provide low cost and efficient personalized investment advice, automated portfolio management, and streamlined financial planning.
[investmentnews.com, 4 September 2024]

About new words