'Stan' added to the dictionary and 'peak' and 'snowflake' given new meanings
26 April 2019, 13:26 | Updated: 26 April 2019, 17:53
Merriam-Webster dictionary has added a number of new words, and altered the meanings of existing ones to fit a millennial audience
'Stan', 'peak' and 'snowflake' have all been given whole new meanings in the latest dictionary shake-up, with Merriam Webster adapting its pages to include new words brought in by the nation's youth.
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Among the whopping 640 new additions, 'peak' can now be used as an adjective and 'Stan' as a verb. And no longer does 'snowflake simply mean "a flake or crystal of snow", but it can also denote “someone who is overly sensitive”.
Also on the list are 'buzzy', 'on-brand', 'swole', and 'gig-economy' (referring to companies such as Deliveroo and Uber).
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The word 'Stan' refers to being an obsessive fan of someone - and comes from the 1999 song of the same name by Eminem - and describing yourself as 'stanning' can be used as a verb.
The song Stan, featuring Dido, tells the story of a man called who becomes obsessed with Enimen - and writes increasingly furious fan-mail to him. The song culminates in him driving off a cliff with his girlfriend ties up in the trunk of the car.
Eminem - Stan (Long Version) ft. Dido
The dictionary now describes 'stan' as both a noun - “an extremely or excessively enthusiastic and devoted fan” - and a verb - “to exhibit fandom to an extreme or excessive degree” or “to be an extremely devoted and enthusiastic fan of someone or something”.
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Merriam Webster said of the additions: The English language never sleeps, and neither does the dictionary. The work of revising a dictionary is constant, and it mirrors the culture’s need to make sense of the world with words.”
Last years additions included “adorbs”, “rando” and “fave”.
