Palentine’s Day noun [C, usually singular]
/ˈpæl.ən.taɪnz ˌdeɪ/
a day, usually 13 February, when friends celebrate their relationship by exchanging gifts and cards in the same way that people in a romantic relationship do on Valentine’s Day

Looking to gain points this year for being the best mate ever? Check out this guide for the best food-related gifts to give this Palentine’s Day. We’re not one for subjecting you guys to something you don’t want to celebrate, which is why we’ve taken it upon ourselves to curate a guide filled with food-related gifts that you could present to your best mate instead, for Palentine’s.
[mob.co.uk, 3 February 2023]

friendsumé noun [C]
UK /ˈfrendz.juː.meɪ/ US /ˈfrendz.ə.meɪ/
a short written description of your personal details, interests etc. that you post online when you are trying to find new friends

Maddison, a 23-year-old photographer, was one of the first to create a friendsumé back in February of this year, posting it to FB group Truly Twenties. On a pale pink and very put-together page, she rattled off her fave TV shows, films and food, alongside a list of her chosen skills. To top it off, she added the tongue-in-cheek caption: “This is my application to be your friend.”
[ca.movies.yahoo.com, 31 March 2023]

situationship noun [C]
/ˌsɪtʃ.uˈeɪ.ʃᵊn.ʃɪp/
a relationship between two people that is more than a friendship but not a fully committed romantic relationship

Being in a situationship is all the rage now! Less than a relationship and more than a friendship, situationships are neither here nor there. People might be in situationships during the first few dates when they are just getting to know each other. However, many situationships last longer, with both sides preferring to go with the flow instead of putting a label on the relationship.
[stylecraze.com, 7 February 2023]

About new words

gamevertising noun [U]
UK /ˈgeɪm.və.taɪ.zɪŋ/ US /ˈgeɪm.vɚ.taɪ.zɪŋ/
a way of advertising a product by making it appear in a computer game

The simplest way of gamevertising is to insert a product in the background of an already existing game. Gamevertising can drive revenue both inside and outside a game. It’s a friendly, non-intrusive way to advertise products, and its highly integrated nature means that players don’t feel burdened by the interruption of an ad.
[geektime.com, 1 January 2023]

AIgiarism noun [U]
UK /ˌeɪˈaɪ.dʒᵊr.ɪ.zᵊm/ US /ˌeɪˈaɪ.dʒɚ.ɪ.zᵊm/
the process or practice of using AI (= artificial intelligence) tools to write essays or answer exam questions and pretending that it is your own work

With fears in academia growing about a new AI chatbot that can write convincing essays – even if some facts it uses aren’t strictly true – the Silicon Valley firm behind a chatbot released last month are racing to “fingerprint” its output to head off a wave of “AIgiarism” – or AI-assisted plagiarism.
[theguardian.com, 31 December 2022]

millennial pause noun [C, U]
UK /mɪˌlen.i.əl ˈpɔːz/ US /mɪˌlen.i.əl ˈpɑːz/
a very short pause before someone starts speaking on a video they are recording for social media to make sure the camera is recording, said to be a common practice among millennials (= people born between around 1981 and 1996)

Recently, I came across an article by Kate Lindsay in The Atlantic about a term called the “millennial pause,” a generational nuance online … It refers to a split-second beat at the beginning of a video to ensure the camera is recording before speaking. It’s a moment you could easily miss, but once you’re onto it, the millennial pause becomes glaringly obvious in all millennial-made content.
[chatterblast.com, 22 September 2022]

About new words

green comet noun [C]
UK /ˌgriːn ˈkɒm.ɪt / US /ˌgriːnˈkɑː.mɪt/
a type of comet (= an object that moves around the sun that is seen on rare occasions from the earth as a bright line in the sky) that has a green glow because of radiation from the sun

A green comet that will be visible from Earth for the first time since the Ice Age appears to be undergoing unusual changes. Comet ZTF has created excitement in recent weeks as it has hurtled towards Earth, coming close enough to the planet that it should be visible to the naked eye. It will be the first close approach for 50,000 years, and will reach its closest point on 1 February.
[independent.co.uk, 21 January 2023]

green gentrification noun [U]
UK /ˌgriːn ˌdʒen.trɪ.fɪˈkeɪ.ʃən / US /ˌgriːn ˌdʒen.trə.fəˈkeɪ.ʃən/
the process by which a place changes from being a poor area to a richer one because measures taken to make the area more environmentally friendly have made it a more desirable place to live and have caused house prices etc. to increase

As neighborhoods become greener, they also become more attractive… and more expensive. In several cities around the world, neighborhoods that have benefited from environmental greening are becoming an object of desire among real estate professionals, who raise the price of housing, thus attracting a new, wealthier segment of the population. This process is called “green gentrification.”
[forbesindia.com, 28 September 2022]

green noise noun [U]
/ˌgriːn ˈnɔɪz/
a mixture of sounds or electrical signals that resembles sounds heard in nature, such as waterfalls or rustling leaves, and is thought to help people to relax

“Green noise is a variation of white noise in the middle of the spectrum,” sleep expert Martin Seeley says. “But as its name suggests, many of the sounds are what we would consider nature. Some great examples of green noise can be the sound of water on a beach, or trickling waterfalls – anything that is attuned to nature and promotes relaxation.”
[glamourmagazine.co.uk, 10 December 2022]

About new words

denim archaeologist noun [C]
UK /ˌden.ɪm ˌɑː.kiˈɒl.ə.dʒɪst/ US /ˌden.ɪm ˌɑːr.kiˈɑː.lə.dʒɪst/
someone whose job is to find and study old items of clothing made from denim

A pair of Levi’s jeans from the 1880s has sold at an auction in a small town in New Mexico for more than $87,000. The jeans – found in an abandoned mine by a “denim archaeologist” – were bought by 23-year-old Kyle Hautner and Zip Stevenson, a veteran of the vintage denim market.
[edition.cnn.com, 13 October 2022]

digital removalist noun [C]
UK /ˌdɪdʒ.ɪ.tᵊl rɪˈmuː.vᵊl.ɪst/ US /ˌdɪdʒ.ə.t̬ᵊl rɪˈmuː.vᵊl.ɪst/
someone whose job is to remove any content from a person’s social media posts that may harm their reputation

Social media, viral posts, and the complexity of the Internet make it difficult to delete embarrassing public and private moments that make their way online. Jon Brodsky, a manager at finder.com, says Generation Z is growing up without the awareness of the consequences that can come from a regretful digital footprint. “As this generation starts to enter the workforce, digital removalists will be in high demand to erase anything incriminating that could impact their future opportunities.”
[rd.com, 2 December 2022]

parastronaut noun [C]
UK /pærˈæs.trə.nɔːt/ US /pærˈæs.trə.nɑːt/
a person with a physical disability who has been trained to travel in space

The European Space Agency made history last week with the announcement of the first “parastronaut”, 41-year-old UK citizen John McFall. He is the first candidate selected for the Parastronaut Feasibility project, described by ESA as a “serious, dedicated and honest attempt to clear the path to space for a professional astronaut with a physical disability”.
[theconversation.com, 1 December 2022]

About new words

tripledemic noun [C]
/ˌtrɪp.ᵊlˈdem.ɪk/
the widespread outbreak of Covid-19, flu and respiratory syncytial virus at the same time

The United States has already plunged into one of the roughest seasons of winter illnesses in decades. After nearly three years of being sequestered, children and adults are back out in crowds, with no masks, no distancing, and viruses waiting with open arms … With what’s now being called a tripledemic, which includes Covid-19, flu, and RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) already spreading rapidly, the winter ahead could be worse.
[forbes.com, 28 November 2022]

mpox noun [U]
UK /ˈem.pɒk.s/ US /ˈem.pɑːk.s/
a new word for monkeypox (= a disease caused by a virus that can be spread to humans by monkeys, apes, rats, and other animals)

The World Health Organization, responding to complaints that the word monkeypox conjures up racist tropes and stigmatizes patients, is recommending that the name of the disease be changed to mpox. Both names are to be used for a year until monkeypox is phased out … “W.H.O. will adopt the term mpox in its communications, and encourages others to follow these recommendations, to minimize any ongoing negative impact of the current name and from adoption of the new name,” the health organization said in a statement.
[nytimes.com, 28 November 2022]

mind dieting noun [U]
/ˈmaɪnd ˌdaɪ.ətɪŋ/
the activity of thinking carefully about what you eat in a way that motivates you to choose foods that are better for you

The first predicted health trend of 2023 is “mind dieting,” which according to nutritionist Lexi Crouch, involves getting the mind into shape by understanding your eating patterns. This can help people get to the root of their unhealthy diet choices. “From keto to fasting, physical dieting is always a hot topic but to get the best results from any diet, health kick or lifestyle change, it might be time to also try a psychological diet,” she said.
[dailymail.co.uk, 6 November 2022]

About new words

productivity theatre noun [U]
UK /ˌprɒd.ʌkˈtɪv.ə.ti ˈθɪə.təʳ/ US /ˌproʊ.dəkˈtɪv.ə.t̬i ˈθiː.ə.t̬ɚ/
a way someone behaves at work that makes them appear to be working very hard, even if this is not the case

We know there is a disconnect between the views of employers and employees on the productivity of working from home. Employees are happier and believe they are more productive; their managers are not so sure. Now it seems, that some of those employees are indulging in what has been termed “productivity theatre”. They make sure their mouse moves frequently – even if they are not working productively – in case their keystrokes are being monitored. They also attend online meetings which do not directly involve them so managers can spot their participation.
[instituteofproductivity.com, 12 October 2022]

anti-perk noun [C]
UK /ˈæn.tiˌpɜːk/ US /ˈæn.t̬iˌpɝːk/
an advantage someone is given because of their job that is in fact not useful or helpful

“Anti-perks” are perks that sound good but don’t actually matter to workers. The biggest offender? Unlimited vacation, which doesn’t really work unless the company encourages employees to take time off. Other perks that drew feisty replies include free booze, free massages, and special-purpose rooms (e.g., fitness, nap, and meditation rooms).
[thehustle.co, 28 September 2022]

boomerang employee noun [C]
/ˈbuː.mə.ræŋ ɪmˌplɔɪ.iː/
someone who goes back to work for a company they have already worked for in the past

Returning workers are also more likely to be given short shrift: coming back to a past employer means there is greater pressure to perform compared to new starters. “Although boomerang employees generally tend to be better performers, they’re also more likely to be fired than external hires – managers expect them to know the organisation right away,” says Keller. “While new starters may be given the benefit of the doubt, a re-hire not living up to expectations is more likely to be laid off.”
[bbc.com/worklife, 9 August 2022]

About new words

space brolly noun [C]
UK /ˈspeɪs ˌbrɒl.i/ US /ˈspeɪs ˌbrɑː.li/
a type of antenna in the shape of an umbrella that can measure Earth’s forests from space and collect information on the extent to which they are being destroyed

It looks for all the world like a giant brolly, but there’s no rain where it’s going. This immense reflector-antenna is heading into space, to “weigh” Earth’s forests. When unfurled, the space brolly’s 12m by 15m wire-mesh membrane will be part of a very special P-band radar system. It can look past the leaf canopy of forests to map the woody parts below.
[bbc.co.uk, 23 August 2022]

energy-positive adjective
UK /ˌen.ə.dʒiˈpɒz.ə.tɪv/ US /ˌen.ɚ.dʒiˈpɑː.zə.t̬ɪv/
An energy-positive building generates more energy than it uses.

Powerhouse Brattørkaia by Snøhetta, an Oslo-based architecture and interior design firm, has the goal of becoming the world’s northernmost energy-positive building and to set a new standard for the construction of the buildings of tomorrow, one that produces more energy than it consumes over its lifespan, including construction and demolition.
[forbes.com, 6 February 2022]

parking barn noun [C]
UK /ˈpɑː.kɪŋ ˌbɑːn/ US /ˈpɑːr.kɪŋ ˌbɑːrn/
a type of car park for residents in a housing development where the aim is to discourage them from using their car for short journeys

New eco-homes planned in Oxfordshire will provide residents with a communal working space to help them cut the carbon footprint of driving into the office. The 180 homes will also require almost no heating or cooling because of the levels of energy efficiency. Homes will not have more than one allotted car parking space, but instead have the use of a “parking barn”, in order to “make residents think twice” about using their car.
[telegraph.co.uk, 24 September 2022]

About new words

place lag noun [U]
/ˈpleɪs ˌlæg/
a feeling of surprise and slight confusion that people experience after making a long journey by plane and arriving in a place that is strange and new

The pilot and writer Mark Vanhoenacker has coined the expression “place lag” to describe the wonder of arriving at new locales after a long flight. Parallel to jet lag and its time difference, the temporary spatial disjuncture between the familiarity of home and the unfamiliarity of elsewhere, enabled through the speed of air travel, can reset one’s perspective on the world.
[luxurytraveladvisor.com, 18 October 2022]

trip stacking noun [U]
/ˈtrɪp ˌstækɪŋ/
the activity of booking more than one holiday for the same time period in case one has to be cancelled, for example because of new travel restrictions

Basically, trip stacking refers to the strategy of booking all your reservations ― from flights to accommodations to restaurants to activities ― for multiple vacations during the same time frame. That way, you have backup options if something disrupts your primary travel plans.
[huffpost.com, 22 April 2022]

regenerative tourism noun [U]
UK /rɪˌdʒen.ə.rə.tɪv ˈtʊə.rɪ.zəm/ US /rɪˌdʒen.ə.rə.t̬ɪv ˈtʊr.ɪ.zəm/
the activity of going on holiday to a particular destination and making a positive impact on the place and the people who live there

By definition, regenerative tourism is “the idea that tourists should leave a place in better condition than it was before.” For example, it would be like visiting a garden and instead of leaving no trace, each person planted a tree or air-purifying plant to further build the environment rather than simply leaving it status quo. In a way, regenerative tourism involves travelers to be active in their acts of sustainability rather than neutral, providing a better future for places that do fall victim to overtourism.
[thetravel.com, 12 July 2022]

About new words