snackification noun [U]
UK /ˌsnæk.ɪ.fɪˈkeɪ.ʃᵊn/ US /ˌsnæk.ə.fəˈkeɪ.ʃᵊn/
the shift from eating proper meals every day to eating several snacks instead

Snackable lifestyles are popular amongst gen Z and millennials. But how is snackification changing eating habits for these young consumers? Half of U.S. consumers eat three or more snacks a day according to market research firm Circana Group. Snack sales reached $181 billion last year: an 11% increase from the year before.
[vml.com, 26 June 2023]

OMAD noun [S]
UK /ˈəʊ.mæd/ US /ˈoʊ.mæd/
abbreviation for “one meal a day”: a diet based on eating only one meal every day

OMAD is an extreme fasting diet. As the name suggests, it involves eating just one big meal a day, with fasting or very minimal eating in between. The key focus of this kind of diet is weight control and simplicity. But while fasting itself isn’t new, the research on its health impacts is still in its infancy and there are very few studies on OMAD and the evidence supporting other more periodic types of fasting can’t necessarily be extrapolated into extreme fasting.
[sciencefocus.com, 25 May 2023]

Atlantic diet noun [S]
UK /ətˈlæn.tɪk ˌdaɪ.ət/ US /ətˈlæn.t̬ɪk ˌdaɪ.ət/
a way of eating based on the foods typically eaten in the northwest of Spain and in Portugal

The “Atlantic diet” — what some experts are calling a variation on Mediterranean eating — is getting some buzz after a study found adherents to the diet had a significantly lower risk of chronic health problems. One of the main differences between the Atlantic diet and the Mediterranean diet is that the Atlantic version incorporates more brassicas, which is a family of vegetables that includes turnip greens, turnips, kale, cabbage and cauliflower.
[washingtonpost.com, 19 February 2024]

About new words

skin streaming noun [U]
/ˈskɪn ˌstriː.mɪŋ/
the practice of using very few skincare products on your face

What if you could pack three effective, holistic, dermatologist-recommended products, and slip those right into your makeup bag … This is where skin streaming comes into play—finally a TikTok trend that influences you to buy less, and more effective, stuff.
[coveteur.com, 25 September 2023]

traptox noun [U]
UK /ˈtræp.tɒks/ US /ˈtræp.tɑːks/
a type of Botox injected into the trapezius muscle

The first time I saw a before and after pic of a traptox treatment, I immediately ran to the mirror to assess my shoulders. (For the uninitiated, traptox involves injecting a neurotoxin into your trapezius muscle to help relieve tension and possibly elongate your neck and slim your shoulders.) Over the next few weeks, I continued feeling hyper-aware and self-conscious about my shoulders as I saw an influx of traptox content on my Instagram feed.
[cosmopolitan.com, 1 January 2024]

looksmaxxing noun [U]
/ˈlʊks.mæk.sɪŋ/
the activity, for a man, of making himself as attractive as possible, often through cosmetic surgery

Looksmaxxing has existed for at least a decade, but has exploded in recent months from obscure forums and Reddit pages into mainstream social media – and TikTok in particular. Impossibly chiselled jaws, pouty lips and cheekbones as high as the Egyptian pyramids are prized, along with “hunter” eyes (those angled slightly downwards towards the nose – a positive canthal tilt).
[theguardian.com, 15 February 2024]

About new words

inverse vaccine noun [C]
UK /ˌɪn.vɜːs ˈvæk.siːn/ US /ɪnˌvɝːs vækˈsiːn/
a type of vaccine that stops the body from attacking and damaging its own healthy cells and tissues

It will take time before inverse vaccines are available for patients, but initial trials have already been conducted on people with coeliac disease, with encouraging results … If inverse vaccines could be developed for all autoimmune illnesses, it would be a real revolution, as we have said, because we would be able to switch off inappropriate reactions in a highly specific and definitive way.
[ibsafoundation.org, 28 September 2023]

zero-dose adjective
UK /ˌzɪə.rəʊˈdəʊs/ US /ˌzɪr.oʊˈdoʊs/
a zero-dose child is one who has never received any of the routine vaccinations that most children are given

Since 2019, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of zero-dose children globally due to COVID-19 disruptions, increased economic crises and conflict, and declines in vaccine confidence … To turn the tide on this unprecedented increase in zero-dose children, it is essential to know who and where these children are so we can reach every child with life-saving vaccinations.
[data.unicef.org, April 2023]

tarmac-to-arm adjective
UK /ˌtɑː.mæk.tuˈɑːm/ US /ˌtɑːr.mæk.tuˈɑːm/
tarmac-to-arm refers to the process involved in getting vaccines and other medicines delivered to the place where they are needed and given to the people who need them

According to assessments by the charity CARE, the average “tarmac-to-arm” delivery costs for a single vaccine dose is $9.97 in South Sudan, equivalent to 40% of the country’s per capita pre-pandemic expenditure on healthcare.
[pharmaceutical-technology.com, 22 June 2022]

About new words

stochastic parrot noun [C]
UK /stəˌkæs.tɪk ˈpær.ət/ US /stəˌkæs.tɪk ˈper.ət/
a way of describing a large language model, because it can produce text that sounds natural but it does not understand what it is saying

ChatGPT is the latest version of a type of generative AI called large language models (LLMs). These models are very large (and deep) neural networks that are notoriously expensive to train. Such models have been called “stochastic parrots” because they have no understanding of what they say. They can’t tell you where their answers come from and will propagate misinformation if [they have] enough frequency and buzz.
[forbes.com, 6 June 2023]

anthrobot noun [C]
UK /ˈæn.θrə.bɒt/ US /ˈæn.θrə.bɑːt/
a very small robot made out of human cells

Scientists have created tiny living robots from human cells that can move around in a lab dish and may one day be able to help heal wounds or damaged tissue … A team at Tufts University and Harvard University’s Wyss Institute have dubbed these creations anthrobots. The research builds on earlier work from some of the same scientists, who made the first living robots, or xenobots, from stem cells sourced from embryos of the African clawed frog.
[cnn.com, 30 November 2023]

See also xenobot

model collapse noun [U, C]
UK /ˈmɒd.ᵊl kəˌlæps/ US /ˈmɑːd.ᵊl kəˌlæps/
a situation where an AI system produces information of poor quality because it has been trained on information produced by other AI systems

AI models are computer programs that perform tasks such as language translation or image recognition by analyzing vast amounts of information, known as datasets. They identify patterns within this data to make predictions and enhance their performance and accuracy over time. However, AI systems can experience “model collapse,” a problem where they’re trained on data produced by other AI models without human-created data. This leads to a rapid decline in output quality due to a feedback loop.
[shortform.com, 7 December 2023]

About new words

teen-ternity leave noun [U]
UK /ˌtiːnˈtɜː.nə.ti ˌliːv/ US /ˌtiːnˈtɝː.nə.t̬i ˌliːv/
a period of time when someone chooses not to have a job because they want to spend more time with their teenage children

Increasingly, parents are choosing to take a career break as their kids reach their teenage years, for reasons including their children’s mental health, exam stress or other pressures that are part of teenage life. Known as ‘teen-ternity’ leave, the phenomenon has seen women with high-profile careers leave their jobs in order to devote more time to their children.
[goodto.com, 5 December 2023]

See also maternity leave

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

The rise of the nepo parent? Florence Pugh’s father may be making a leap into British politics … Pugh may be one of the first “nepo parents” to benefit from their offspring’s success as a springboard into a high-profile career, though Florence’s down-to-earth father would be the first to dismiss this.
[tatler.com, 25 October 2023]

See also nepo baby

inchstone noun [C]
UK /ˈɪntʃ.stəʊn/ US /ˈɪntʃ.stoʊn/
a small but important stage in the development of a baby or young child

Pinterest predicts that in 2024, parents will focus on celebrating inchstones, which they describe as “tiny triumphs” … Accomplishments like putting on shoes independently may not feel photo-worthy, but they still deserve to be celebrated. And parents who worked hard to help their children achieve those inchstones deserve to be celebrated, too.
[today.com, 12 January 2024]

See also milestone

About new words

super distruster noun [C]
UK /ˈsuː.pə dɪˌstrʌs.təʳ/ US /ˈsuː.pɚ dɪˌstrʌs.tɚ/
someone who thinks their country has many serious problems caused by politicians and other people in a position of power, and that these people should not be trusted at all

Almost a third of adults may be “super distrusters” who regard the system as broken and are highly suspicious of those they hold responsible, according to research. They defy traditional and demographic categorisation and are likely to opt out of supporting the main parties or voting at all.
[The Sunday Times, 17 September 2023]

vibecession noun [C]
/ˌvaɪbˈseʃ.ᵊn/
a period during which people feel very worried and pessimistic about the economy when in fact it is in a strong position

Oddly, surveys have consistently shown most Americans feeling pretty good about their own financial situation. But they insisted that bad things were happening to the economy — that is, other people. The commentator Kyla Scanlon coined the term “vibecession,” now widely used to mean a situation in which negative views about the economy don’t seem to match up with the data.
[nytimes.com, 22 January 2024]

p(doom) noun [U]
/ˌpiːˈduːm/
a humorous way, based on a scientific formula (where p = probability), of describing the chances that AI will kill all humans

The term that began as a half-serious inside joke on tech message boards to describe the odds that AI destroys humankind, has broken into the mainstream. The buzzword is p(doom), and it provides both AI experts and average know-nothings a common scale to describe where they stand on the question of whether AI is going to kill us.
[fastcompany.com, 7 December 2023]

About new words

coolcation noun [C]
/ˌkuːlˈkeɪ.ʃᵊn/
a holiday in a place where the weather is not very warm, usually because you do not want to go somewhere that has become too hot because of climate change

For the vast majority of folk, summer holidays used to be about following the sun, seeking the heat. With the intense, record-breaking temperatures of recent years, however, many are considering travelling in the opposite direction: booking “coolcations” in temperate destinations, which also benefit from being less crowded.
[cntraveller.com, 18 December 2023]

carbon bomb noun [C]
UK /ˈkɑː.bᵊn ˌbɒm/ US /ˈkɑːr.bᵊn ˌbɑːm/
a project to extract a fossil fuel from the ground that would cause carbon dioxide emissions of more than one gigatonne

Recent reports have revealed that banks pumped more than $150 billion (£124bn) into companies with “carbon bomb” projects that could destroy humanity’s last chance to stop the climate crisis in the past year. Together, the current oil, gas, and coal carbon bombs outdo the world’s total remaining carbon budget that was set in the Paris Agreement, which aims to get ahead of global warming.
[standard.co.uk, 1 November 2023]

climate mobility noun [U]
UK /ˈklaɪ.mət məʊˌbɪl.ə.ti/ US /ˈklaɪ.mət moʊˌbɪl.ə.t̬i/
moving away from an area affected by climate change to live somewhere else

Climate mobility was the most glaring omission at this year’s Summit. This encompasses both forced displacement, either due to sudden-onset disasters or climate change-induced shifts in environmental conditions, as well as the use of long-term migration or temporary mobility as proactive adaptation strategies by individuals or communities.
[justsecurity.org, 19 October 2023]

About new words

soft life noun [C]
UK /ˈsɒft ˌlaɪf/ US /ˈsɑːft ˌlaɪf/
a lifestyle someone chooses that is as stress-free and unchallenging as possible, focusing instead on relaxation and well-being

As the wording suggests, soft life is all about veering away from stress and struggle and embracing a more easy and enriched life. “Soft life isn’t new, however I’m really grateful to see its resurgence,” said Chlöe Pierre, founder of wellness platform thy.self. “Essentially to me, especially as a black woman, soft life is about making choices that can avoid me having to live a much longer, and unsustainable, life in hardship.”
[independent.co.uk, 9 August 2023]

soft separation noun [C, U]
UK /ˌsɒft ˌsep.ᵊrˈeɪ.ʃᵊn/ US /ˌsɑːft ˌsep.əˈreɪ.ʃᵊn/
an arrangement by which two married people stop living together as a couple but do not get divorced

Soft separation involves separating without a divorce, and often remaining conjoined in some way, whether that’s keeping the same surname or sharing holidays. Ultimately whether a soft separation works out may be down to whether it’s a personal choice or a financial necessity. However, in an increasingly harsh world of relationships it’s nice to know that amicable break-ups are still possible.
[mailplus.co.uk, 17 October 2023]

soft saving noun [U]
UK /ˌsɒft ˈseɪ.vɪŋ/ US /ˌsɑːft ˈseɪ.vɪŋ/
the activity of saving less money for the future and spending more now to enjoy a better quality of life

Gen Z appears to be taking this in stride by embracing a trend known as “soft saving,” the idea of prioritizing personal and mental well-being over a focus on beefing up their investment portfolios. It’s about living for today and minimizing daily stress rather than worrying endlessly about the future.
[moneytalkgo.com, 23 June 2023]

About new words

tour tourism noun [U]
UK /ˌtʊə ˈtʊə.rɪ.zᵊm/ US /ˌtʊr ˈtʊr.ɪ.zᵊm/
the activity of travelling abroad to see a singer or band live in concert

Tour tourism is just like the usual travel that people make to go to another place, only this time they go on a journey to see their favorite artist perform. Expedia, an online travel brand, notices a sharp increase in it and sees Taylor Swift as the reason behind it. Aside from Taylor Swift, another equally famous pop star also caused the soar of tour tourism: Beyoncé and her Renaissance Tour.
[spieltimes.com, 12 November 2023]

dry tripping noun [U]
/ˈdraɪ ˌtrɪp.ɪŋ/
going on holidays where there is a focus on not drinking alcohol

According to a recent survey by Hotels.com, “dry tripping” or taking alcohol-free vacations is on the rise, especially among young people who are increasingly opting for a more mindful and health-conscious approach to travel. Many hotels and resorts around the world are catering to sober-curious travelers … offering alcohol-free beverage options, mocktail-making classes, and even detox-focused amenities.
[travelnoire.com, 24 November 2023]

slowcation noun [C]
UK /ˌsləʊˈkeɪ.ʃᵊn/ US /ˌsloʊˈkeɪ.ʃᵊn/
a type of holiday where the aim is to get to know the people and culture of a place slowly, rather than simply visiting the most popular tourist attractions

Embarking on a slowcation is like savoring a fine wine; it’s about indulging in the depth, complexity, and subtlety of a place, rather than merely skimming its surface. Instead of racing through a checklist of attractions, a slowcation invites you to linger, to delve into the heart of a destination. It’s about finding the soul of a place, living like a local, and allowing the rhythm of everyday life to dictate your days.
[drifttravel.com, 13 December 2023]

About new words