Cambridge Dictionary 2025: New Words Skibidi, Delulu & More
Introduction
The English language never stands still—it evolves with every meme, trend, and cultural shift. This year, the Cambridge Dictionary made headlines by adding over 6,000 new words and phrases that reflect how people speak today. Among the most talked-about are “skibidi” and “delulu”, alongside fresh terms like tradwife, lewk, broligarchy, inspo, work wife, snackable, fast tech, Gen Alpha, technofossil, and mouse jiggler.
If you’re learning English or keeping up with modern slang, here’s everything you need to know about these new additions.
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| Cambridge Dictionary 2025: New Words |
Latest Cambridge Dictionary Words
1. Skibidi
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Meaning: A slang word often used to describe something absurd, funny, or chaotic.
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Origin: From the viral Skibidi Toilet YouTube series and earlier the song “Skibidi” (2018) by Russian band Little Big.
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Example: “That video was so random—it’s pure skibidi energy!”
2. Delulu
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Meaning: Short for delusional, meaning having unrealistic or exaggerated beliefs, often humorously.
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Origin: Popularised in K-pop fandoms, then spread globally via TikTok.
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Example: “They call me delulu for thinking my small YouTube channel will blow up overnight, but I’m hopeful.”
3. Tradwife
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Meaning: A “traditional wife”, embracing homemaking, motherhood, and old-fashioned family roles.
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Origin: Social media and lifestyle influencers promoting traditional living.
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Example: “Her tradwife videos focus on baking, sewing, and homemaking.”
4. Lewk
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Meaning: A stylish or striking outfit/look, often with flair.
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Origin: Popular in drag culture and fashion communities.
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Example: “She walked into the party serving a lewk.”
5. Broligarchy
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Meaning: A situation where a group of men (bros) dominate or control something, often in business, politics, or social settings, in a way that excludes or sidelines others.
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Origin: It’s a blend of “bro” and “oligarchy” (rule by a small group).
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Example: “Critics called Silicon Valley leaders a broligarchy.”
6. Gen Alpha
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Meaning: The generation born after 2010.
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Origin: Academic and media term to define demographics.
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Example: “Gen Alpha kids are true digital natives.”
7. Inspo
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Meaning: Short for “inspiration”, often used on social media.
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Origin: Lifestyle, fashion, and design content online.
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Example: “This Pinterest board is my outfit inspo.”
8. Work Wife (Work Spouse)
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Meaning: A close colleague you share a strong platonic bond with at work.
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Origin: Workplace slang.
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Example: “My work wife always supports me during stressful projects.”
9. Snackable
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Meaning: Short, easily consumable content (videos, posts, etc.).
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Origin: Reflecting fast online consumption habits.
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Example: “Brands are focusing on snackable TikTok videos.”
10. Fast Tech
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Meaning: Cheap, mass-produced gadgets with short lifespans, similar to fast fashion.
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Origin: Environmental discussions on tech waste.
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Example: “That tablet was fast tech—it broke within months.”
11. Technofossil
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Meaning: Obsolete technology that represents a bygone digital era.
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Origin: From discussions on technology’s long-lasting environmental footprint.
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Example: “Floppy discs are true technofossils now.
12. Mouse Jiggler
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Meaning: A small device or software tool that keeps a computer active by simulating mouse movement. Often used to prevent screens from locking during work.
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Origin: Popularised during remote work and online monitoring culture, when employees sought ways to appear “active” on company systems.
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Example: “He plugged in a mouse jiggler to stop Teams from showing him as inactive.”
Why These Words Were Added
According to Cambridge lexicographers, words are added when they’re widely used, culturally relevant, and understood across contexts. The newest update highlights the influence of:
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TikTok trends (skibidi, delulu),
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Workplace culture (work wife),
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Fashion and lifestyle content (lewk, inspo),
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Generational identity (Gen Alpha),
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Tech and environmental awareness (fast tech, technofossil).
This shows how English continues to evolve with social media, technology, and global culture.
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External References
Final Thoughts
From skibidi’s absurdist meme roots to tradwife’s lifestyle revival and snackable content shaping media, the Cambridge Dictionary 2025 update is proof that English evolves with our culture.
So next time you hear someone say “she’s so delulu” or “that’s a lewk”, remember—it’s not just slang anymore. It’s official English.
