Kicker: New words

PAUL BUTLER, HOST: Merriam-Webster has added nearly 400 new words and terms to its dictionary.

Among them “dumbphone,” as in the opposite of a smartphone: That’s a cell phone that does not include advanced software features.

Another addition is “laggy”: having a delayed or slow response.

Webster also added “janky,” meaning of very poor quality.

It also added terms that entered the national lexicon during the pandemic like: Subvariant, false negative, false positive, and booster dose.

And then there’s my favorite addition: MacGyver. You know, like the 1980’s TV show:

AUDIO: Alright MacGyver think. Rope. A smoke alarm. Sheets of plywood. Yeah. It just might work.

MacGyver is now an official slang word meaning to make, form, or repair (something) with what is conveniently on hand.

Hey Myrna, hand me that baling wire, a credit card, and a stick of gum... we have a podcast to finish up.

It’s The World and Everything in It.

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