The Merriam Webster Dictionary has announced a stack of new words its formally recognising have entered the English language, among them are several words relating to the transgender community.
‘Top-surgery’ and ‘bottom-surgery’ are now officially in the dictionary, along with “gender nonconforming.” There among 640 words added to the latest edition of the dictionary.
Gender nonconforming is defined as “exhibiting behavioral, cultural, or psychological traits that do not correspond with the traits typically associated with one’s sex: having a gender expression that does not conform to gender norms.” The phrase is believed to have first been used in 1991.
Top surgery is defined as “a type of gender confirmation surgery in which a person’s breasts are removed or augmented to match their gender identity” and bottom surgery is defined as “a type of gender confirmation surgery in which a person’s genitalia are altered to match their gender identity.”
According to Merriam-Webster, the first known use of “top surgery,” was in 1992, while “bottom surgery” first appeared in 1994.
Also being officially recognised was ‘EGOT’ – someone who has won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony award, the millenial phrase ‘stan’ – as in a super fan of something, and being ‘on-brand’, as in being consistent with your identity.
Some words are also given updates on their meaning, this time round a new meaning was added to ‘snowflake’ to include its use as a depiction of someone who is overly sensitive, and ‘unplug’ was given a new meaning for when we use it to describe ourselves as disconnecting from social media.
OIP Staff
