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

proptech noun [U]
UK /ˈprɒp.tek/ US /ˈprɑːp.tek/
abbreviation for “property technology”: the business of using technology to buy and sell property in new ways

The real estate industry has undergone a significant technological transformation in recent years, and the word “proptech” has firmly come into common use. But this concept is so broad that you may even have no idea that the tool you’re using actually refers to proptech. In fact, proptech real estate solutions apply to all processes throughout the lifecycle of a property.
[solveit.dev, 27 October 2023]

tech prepper noun [C]
UK /ˈtek prep.əʳ/ US /ˈtek prep.ɚ/
someone who believes that a war or disaster will happen soon, and who makes sure they have reliable technology-related equipment and knowledge in order to be ready for it

You’re prepared for everything; with the tools you need to go off the grid at a moment’s notice. However, if your bug-out bag is missing a rugged laptop, you can’t rightly call yourself a tech prepper. Tech resilience is crucial for digital preparedness in unpredictable circumstances … Tech preppers have the tools and expertise they need to live off the grid, even if traditional infrastructure falls apart.
[bobjohnson.com, 27 March 2024]

See also prepper

cloudwashing noun [U]
UK /ˈklaʊd.wɒʃ.ɪŋ/ US /ˈklaʊd.wɑː.ʃɪŋ/
the act of marketing an old computer product or service as cloud-based when it is not, or mostly not, to take advantage of the popularity of cloud computing and make more money from the product or service

Cloud computing is low-maintenance, cost-effective and highly scalable – in fact, it’s nothing short of game-changing. But if you’re not vigilant, you could fall into the trap of procuring cloud software that’s traditional software in disguise. It’s called cloudwashing, and it’s becoming more common.
[rae.co.za, 17 March 2024]

See also -washing

About new words

noctalgia noun [U]
UK /nɒkˈtæl.dʒə/ US /nɑːkˈtæl.dʒə/
a feeling of sadness felt by some people because light pollution means they can no longer see a dark sky at night

The faster-than-expected growth in earthly and celestial lights is affecting human and ecological health. But it is not just our biology being affected. The night sky is also cultural. Stories, practices, and traditions both religious and secular rely on it … And so we now have “noctalgia” to define that specific feeling of a loss of a dark night sky. The cure for it is not difficult. It mostly needs political will. There are many ways to reduce light pollution.
[iflscience.com, 20 September 2023]

heat inequality noun [U]
UK /ˈhiːt ɪn.ɪˌkwɒl.ə.ti/ US /ˈhiːt ɪn.ɪˌkwɑː.lə.t̬i/
the situation where people in poor countries suffer the effects of hotter weather more than people in richer countries do, with more of them dying as a result

Heat inequality is causing thousands of unreported deaths in poor countries and communities across the world, a leading analyst of climate impacts has warned, following global temperature records that may not have been seen in 120,000 years.
[guardian.com, 16 August 2024]

carbon farming noun [U]
UK /ˈkɑː.bᵊn ˌfɑː.mɪŋ/ US /ˈkɑːr.bᵊn ˌfɑːr.mɪŋ/
the activity of growing crops in a way that captures and stores as much carbon dioxide from the atmosphere in the soil as possible, thereby reducing the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and helping to fight climate change

Carbon farming, ultimately, buys us time, Crawford believes. The world wants to get to net zero by 2050. None of the existing solutions for removing atmospheric carbon will scale fast enough to have an impact in the coming decades, Crawford says. This is why nature-based solutions are crucial.
[wired.com, 18 April 2024]

About new words

 

BYOAI abbreviation
UK /ˌbiː.waɪˌəʊ.eɪˈaɪ/ US /ˌbiː.waɪˌoʊ.eɪˈaɪ/
abbreviation for “bring your own artificial intelligence”: the practice of companies saying that employees can use their own artificial intelligence tools when at work

The potential benefits of BYOAI are substantial. Allowing individuals to select their own AI toolkit enables a more personalized approach to technology in the workplace, catering to the specific needs and styles of each employee, team, or department. This customization leads to greater autonomy (closely linked to job satisfaction), fosters innovation, and enhances productivity by enabling employees to work in more effective and enjoyable ways.
[mindport.ca, July 2024]

See also BYOD

AI washing noun [U]
UK /ˌeɪˈaɪ wɒʃ.ɪŋ/ US /ˌeɪˈaɪ wɑː.ʃɪŋ/
the behaviour of a company or organization that tries to make people believe that it is using AI to make its products or services better, when really it is not doing this or is only partly doing it

When it comes to AI washing, there are several types. Some companies claim to use AI when they’re actually using less-sophisticated computing, while others overstate the efficacy of their AI over existing techniques, or suggest that their AI solutions are fully operational when they are not.
[bbc.co.uk/news, 27 June 2024]

See also -washing

AIaaS noun [U]
/ˌeɪ.aɪˌeɪ.eɪˈes/
abbreviation for “artificial intelligence as a service”: a service that allows businesses to buy a variety of AI tools and capabilities from a single platform

AIaaS works like other cloud-based services, providing AI products and services via an “as a service” model. It can help you effectively collect and store as much data as you want. AIaaS is easy to implement, enabling businesses and individuals to experiment with various public cloud platforms, machine learning algorithms, and services.
[geekflare.com, 19 July 2024]

About new words

centibillionaire noun [C]
UK /ˌsen.tɪˌbɪl.jəˈneəʳ/ US /ˌsen.t̬ɪˌbɪl.jəˈner/
someone who has assets and investments worth at least 100 billion dollars, pounds, etc.

It took the dot-com bubble to create the first centibillionaire, Bill Gates, whose Microsoft shares briefly pushed him beyond 11 figures in 1999 before the crash chopped his net worth nearly in half. No one would come close for almost two decades … Jeff Bezos finally cracked the code anew in late 2017, becoming the second $100 billionaire when Amazon rocketed toward $1 trillion in market capitalization.
[forbes.com, 2 April 2024]

meme stock noun [C]
UK /ˈmiːm ˌstɒk/ US /ˈmiːm ˌstɑːk/
a share in a company that becomes popular with investors through social media

Many investors flock to meme stocks because they can realize substantial returns in a short period … Julio Bedolla, wealth manager at LourdMurray, explains some of the psychology that drives people to trade meme stocks: “Investors are drawn to meme stocks for several reasons; the biggest, in my opinion, is FOMO (fear of missing out) on the next ‘get rich quick’ trend.”
[money.usnews.com, 2 July 2024]

bag holder noun [C]
UK /ˈbæg həʊl.dəʳ/ US /ˈbæg hoʊl.dɚ/
an investor who owns shares in a company that have gradually lost all their value and are now worth nothing

Value investors who seek underpriced stocks run a high risk of becoming bag holders. They buy stocks that are out of favor in the market, believing their price will rebound. This means that they even invest in stocks that have declined in value significantly. In such cases, there’s always a chance that the market may know more than them, and the security price drops further.
[wallstreetmojo.com, 4 April 2024]

About new words

flextirement noun [U]
UK /ˈfleks.taɪə.mənt/ US /fleks.ˈtaɪr.mənt/
an arrangement where an employee gradually reduces their working hours until they completely retire

Instead of a full-blown retirement when you reach 62 years old and can collect social security benefits, flextirement allows an employee to move to a more part-time role and eventually shorten the number of hours worked over a certain time period until they officially retire. Instead of working a full 40-hour week, that person might switch to only half that, leaving them time to begin to enjoy retirement.
[worklife.news, 30 October 2023]

sunlighting noun [U]
UK /ˈsʌn.laɪt.ɪŋ/ US /ˈsʌn.laɪ.t̬ɪŋ/
the act of working at an extra job that your main employer is aware of

Should companies offer strict policies on moonlighting or allow room for sunlighting? The answer might be a balanced approach that neither stifles employee freedom nor exposes companies to potential risks. Either way, it’s time to rethink how we approach employment and day-to-day work.
[linkedin.com, 31 October 2023]

See also moonlighting

conscious quitting noun [U]
UK /ˌkɒn.ʃəs ˈkwɪt.ɪŋ/ US /ˌkɑːn.ʃəs ˈkwɪt.ɪŋ/
the act of leaving your job because you do not share the same values as the people in charge of your company

Chris Preston, founder and director of The Culture Builders, says conscious quitting is happening because “Gen Z’ers are joining companies that have a culture either built on fabrications, or completely at odds with their own moral compass. “To stop it, organisations have to be both more honest about why they exist or how they work and take a long hard look at the work environment they are dropping our latest generation of talent into.”
[peoplemanagement.co.uk, 12 December 2023]

See also quiet quitting

About new words

quishing noun [U]
/ˈkwɪʃ.ɪŋ/
a type of phishing attack that uses QR codes to trick people into visiting websites or downloading files that will harm their computer or allow people to take money from them

Quishing works similarly to traditional phishing attacks, where the URL to the malicious website is delivered via email or SMS messages. However, in quishing, the QR code is decoded into a URL that points to the malicious website. The malicious QR code can be printed on paper or simply created digitally on digital posters and delivered via social media posts or emails.
[authentic8.com, 13 June 2024]

FaaS noun [U]
/ˌefeɪeɪˈes/
abbreviation for “fraud as a service”: the business of selling knowledge, software, data etc. to enable people to carry out fraudulent activities online

In a world where the shadows of the internet foster not just innovation but also illicit economies, the emergence of Fraud as a Service (FaaS) marks an unavoidable evolution in the cybercrime saga. Imagine a marketplace, not unlike those you’re used to, but one that trades in deception, theft, and digital disruption.
[fraudio.com, 10 April 2024]

money mule noun [C]
/ˈmʌn.i mjuːl/
someone who receives money from a criminal into their bank account and then transfers it to another person

Money mules are a crucial link in the fraud chain – and, while they are criminals in the eyes of the law, many are completely unaware of their involvement. You may know one, or even be one yourself! … Not all money mules are complicit – many are victims of fraud themselves, while others may be forced or tricked into letting criminals use their bank accounts.
[which.co.uk, 1 July 2024]

About new words

Generation T noun [U]
/ˌdʒen.əˈreɪ.ʃᵊn ˈtiː/
a way of referring to the group of people who were born in the early 2000s and who spend a lot of their free time travelling and going on holiday

With 18-24-year-olds set to be the most prolific travellers in 2024, ABTA – The Travel Association – has delved into their plans for the year ahead. Dubbed Generation T by ABTA due to their enthusiasm for travel, almost three-quarters of them are planning to travel overseas in the next 12 months … That doesn’t mean lots of quick breaks either. Generation T has been taking a much higher number of holidays for seven days or more than any other age group.
[abta.com/news, 28 November 2023]

See also Generation Z

microgapping noun [U]
UK /ˈmaɪ.krəʊ.gæp.ɪŋ/ US /ˈmaɪ.kroʊ.gæp.ɪŋ/
an alternative to the gap year, where people take shorter breaks and travel around their home country

Want to “get off the beaten track” on home turf this year? Maybe go biking, learn photography or try a spot of forest bathing in ancient forests? Or forage for gin botanicals, paddle down an idyllic river or improve your cooking skills? All this and more are possible in the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley. It’s ideal territory for microgapping, if you can’t get much time off or fork out for a long holiday.
[visitdeanwye.co.uk, 15 August 2022]

ghamping noun [U]
/ˈgæm.pɪŋ/
camping in a place that is said to have ghosts

The Rhode Island house that inspired the 2013 horror film The Conjuring is offering fans of the films and amateur paranormal investigators the chance to go “ghamping” – ghost camping – on the property. The Burrillville structure, dubbed The Conjuring House after gaining fame from the film, said eight camp sites have been set up on the property, each with a 3-4 person tent.
[upi.com, 24 May 2023]

About new words

decel noun [C]
/ˈdiːsel/
someone who believes that AI and other new technologies are developing so quickly that they are likely to cause very serious problems and that progress should be deliberately slowed down

Another group of tech folks who matter in the AI debate are sometimes called the “decels.” Of course, decels are often denizens of the tech world, too. For example, earlier this year, a bunch of tech folks, including Elon Musk, signed an open letter proposing a pause in AI research past the level of GPT-4. The decels are still in favor of building new AI tech; they just want to be more careful about it.
[techcrunch.com, 20 November 2023]

slop noun [U]
UK /slɒp/ US /slɑːp/
AI-generated content that is unwanted and of poor quality

Your email inbox is full of spam. Your letterbox is full of junk mail. Now, your web browser has its own affliction: slop. “Slop” is what you get when you shove artificial intelligence-generated material up on the web for anyone to view. Unlike a chatbot, the slop isn’t interactive, and is rarely intended to actually answer readers’ questions or serve their needs.
[theguardian.com, 19 May 2024]

e/acc noun [U]
/ˌiːˈæk/
abbreviation for effective accelerationism: a movement that believes AI and other new technologies should be allowed to develop as quickly as possible without any restrictions

E/acc, as it’s known online, represents an obscure but growing movement that has made progress — specifically accelerated technological progress — its moral mission … Many of e/acc’s proponents are venture capitalists, founders, and engineers who would happen to benefit financially from technology’s accelerated progress.
[ca.style.yahoo.com, 5 January 2024]

See also accelerationism

About new words

coffee badging noun [U]
UK /ˈkɒf.i ˌbædʒɪŋ/ US /ˈkɑː.fi ˌbædʒɪŋ/
the activity of going to your place of work and staying just long enough to have a coffee with colleagues before going home again to work there

Is your boss demanding you come into the office more often? As companies issue return-to-office orders, some workers are trying a new workaround called “coffee badging”. With most companies telling workers to show up at least some of the week — and some companies even weighing a return to a blanket five-day office mandate — employees are getting crafty with how long they actually stay there.
[euronews.com, 19 June 2024]

mouse jiggling noun [U]
/ˈmaʊs ˌdʒɪg.ᵊl.ɪŋ/
the activity of making one’s computer mouse move at regular intervals, using a gadget or piece of software, in order to make your employer think you are working when in fact you are not

The recent termination of over a dozen Wells Fargo employees for so-called simulation of keyboard activity, also known as ‘mouse jiggling’, has sparked widespread debate about modern management practices and the ethical implications of employee surveillance. This development is indicative of larger issues within corporate culture, particularly in the remote work landscape.
[developerherald.eu, 13 June 2024]

vampire task noun [C]
UK /ˈvæm.paɪə tɑːsk/ US /ˈvæm.paɪr tæsk/
one of the routine but necessary administrative tasks that employees have to spend a lot of time doing rather than more important work

Constantly overwhelmed by your to-do list at work? It’s time to stop “vampire tasks” from taking over your day. Between filing documents, clearing emails, scheduling meetings, chasing co-workers, managing your calendar and filling out expenses, how much of your working day is taken up by… doing your job? … If your days feel long and stressful but you’re not entirely convinced you’ve been productive by the time you clock off, you could be getting bogged down by these “vampire tasks”.
[www.stylist.co.uk, April 2024]

About new words