Words That Weren’t Around Two Decades Ago

The English language can be rather confusing. Not just to those learning it as a second language but to native speakers too. Words that look alike but sound different, and words that look different but sound alike can be mystifying. Consider that languages also evolve and change fairly often, and this can add to the complexity. Each year, new terminology is added, words that weren't around two decades ago, words that describe things happening today.

The world is constantly evolving and with it our vocabulary as well. According to Dictionary.com, more than 1,700 new or updated words were added to the dictionary in 2024. Whether silly lingo, slang, or idioms, these new words are created to explain our actions, and the only way to stay informed is by adding them to a place where they'll be remembered – the dictionary.

To gather this list of words that weren't around two decades ago, 24/7 Tempo consulted several insightful websites including Gizmodo, Yahoo Tech, and The Writing Cooperative. (If you're not in the loop, you'll feel out of place when eavesdropping. On the topic of language, this is the most commonly spoken foreign language in every state.)

Has anyone ever described you as being a foodie? If so, it probably means you're head over heels in love with your never-ending food options. The word foodie is used to describe people who enjoy dining at restaurants, cooking delicious recipes, tasting exotic foods, or consuming food-related content on social media.

The word photobomb describes that person who poses in the background of your picture, even though they're not part of your social circle. An example of this would be posing for a photo with your best friend or significant other in front of a historical landmark. Someone passing by might stop and pose for the picture to be silly, even though they're a stranger to you.

When you hear the word clickbait it's simply referring to the use of overly exaggerated article headlines or header images that encourage readers to click articles open. It would be clickbait to publish an article with a title like "The Shocking Truth About Drinking Soda," if you know the article isn't going to provide the reader with any new information that would be considered shocking.

If the article is full of common knowledge and boring details about the sugar content inside a can of soda, then the article title used is 100% classified as clickbait.

Until recently, there wasn't a special name to describe friendships that blossomed between men. The word bromance is now used to describe the platonic connection men might share. Although the word rhymes with romance, it's meant to be silly and playful without hinting at any real romantic attraction between two guy friends.

Have you ever been on a staycation? Many people have experienced staycations for decades, but this phenomenon only recently snagged a name for itself. Enjoying a staycation means spoiling yourself without leaving your local area and experiencing the benefits of a vacation without shelling out money on travel costs such as plane tickets or hotel rooms.

Lollygagging in comfort.

When you remove someone from your friends list on a social media app, what exactly would you call that? As of now, the term is unfriending. 20 years ago, people weren't anywhere near as active on social media as they are today. The term people comfortable use when they're ready to remove someone from their social media friends lists is freely used now in a way that didn't exist before.

When people talk about the dread that comes along with adulting, they're usually sarcastically and playfully referring to all the responsibilities they didn't know they'd have to deal with when they came of age. Adulting refers to paying your bills on time, scheduling doctor appointments, showing up to work consistently, and showcasing signs of genuine maturity. It isn't easy for a lot of people, which is why it snagged a name.

When someone catfishes another person, they're lying about who they really are while hiding behind the screen of a dating app or a social media profile. Catfishing became popular in the early 2000s because people easily created fake profiles using pictures of other people to start conversations with whoever they wanted.

Fortunately, it's a little more difficult for people to get away with catfishing now since folks can easily request a video phone call from whoever they're chatting with. Still, catfishing wasn't something that had a name 20 years ago.

When you snap pictures of yourself on your own smartphone, it's called taking a selfie. In the age of social media when everyone's so keen on sharing details about their lives, it makes sense that a word like this one would find its way to the surface. Smartphones have cameras located on the front and back, which means taking selfies is easier than ever.

What exactly does it mean to be bougie? This slang terminology refers to people who go out of their way to pursue the finer things in life. Sometimes, it describes individuals who aren't very wealthy, yet still try their best to flex with designer-label clothing and stacks of money on social media.

Other times, this word describes people who are genuinely successful and unafraid to show it. This word has grown so popular that a popular rap group called Migos released a hit song called "Bad and Boujee." They spelled the word differently, but it's still amassed more than 1.2 billion views on YouTube.

Now that social media is such a big deal in this modern era, it's easy for people to stay up-to-date on your daily activities. It's also easy for people to start cyberstalking you if they are curious enough to develop an obsession. Cyberstalking is incredibly scary since it often means you'll have to think twice about the things you post based on the fear that a cyberstalker will track down your whereabouts. A prime example of a cyberstalker in modern pop culture would be the character of Joe Goldberg from "You" on Netflix.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 23: Penn Badgley speaks onstage during Vibe Check: Saeed Jones, Sam Sanders, Zach Stafford In Conversation With Penn Badgley at 92NY on June 23, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images)

When people film vlogs, they record video footage of whatever they're interested in. Then they crop it together and post it online for the world to see. One of the most common websites for vloggers to post their content is YouTube. 20 years ago, there wasn't a word for this type of social media behavior. Back in the day, videos and movies were always professionally filmed by camera crews and production studios. Now, anyone can become a vlogger, make video content, and go viral on the Internet.

It's super common to use emojis in text conversations these days. That doesn't mean it was a common thing to do 20 years ago, though! At this point, just about everyone knows what an emoji is and how important they are for making sure emotions don't get lost while exchanging faceless text messages. Some of the most common emojis people use are the smiley faces, the colorful hearts, and the various hand symbols.

Bullying used to be something that happened on school campuses between youngsters all the time. Now, bullying is something that can happen just about anywhere. Cyberbullying is a term that describes people being aggressive and rude to others on social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, or Reddit.

Cyberbullying is just as serious as in-person bullying since it can result in depression, anxiety, and suicide in the worst cases. Anyone who currently feels like they are a victim of cyberbullying may very well benefit from taking a social media detox. Click here to discover warning signs that a social media detox could greatly benefit you.