Underwater Becomes An Official Word

Merriam-Webster Has Added The Word To Its Newest Edition

 Earlier this month, Merriam-Webster, publisher of the Collegiate Dictionary, announced the list of new entries it’s adding this year.

Photo via Huffington Post.

 In addition to the new meaning of “underwater” included this year, the new entries (and their definitions as written by Merriam-Webster) include:

• underwater — adj (1672) ... 3: having, relating to, or being a mortgage loan for which more is owed than the property securing the loan is worth
• man cave — n (1992): a room or space (as in a basement) designed according to the taste of the man of the house to be used as his personal area for hobbies and leisure activities
• bucket list — n (2006): a list of things that one has not done before but wants to do before dying
• game changer — n (1993): a newly introduced element or factor that changes an existing situation or activity in a significant way
• toxic — adj (1664) ... 4: relating to or being an asset that has lost so much value that it cannot be sold on the market

 In other words: “Adding a man cave is on my bucket list, but right now my home is so underwater it’s nearly toxic; until there’s a real game changer in the market, I’m stuck watching TV in the den.”

 For a slideshow of more of the new words, such as “aha moment,” “flexitarian,” and “earworm,” check out this post on Huffington Post.