Brexit's inclusion in the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) December update within five years of being coined is highly unusual.
"The speed with which it became widely used and recognised was impressive, fuelled by the fact it filled an empty space in our language, and the growing importance of the phenomenon it described," said Craig Leyland, Senior Editor of the OED.
"Foreign language newspapers used it on their front pages to report on the referendum, knowing that readers in Italian, French and Polish would understand, Leyland said.
"The word became a linguistic wellspring, pouring out new items at speed, even if some - Bregret, Bremorse, Brexodus - seemed to be trying too hard and none has yet shown sufficient durability to enter the OED," Leyland.
The word 'YouTuber' has been defined as a frequent user of the video-sharing website YouTube, especially someone who produces and appears in videos on the site, while 'glam-ma' refers to a glamourous grandma.
The Oxford English Dictionary is updated four times a year, every March, June, September and December since the year 2000.
The material added to the dictionary includes revised versions of existing entries, as well as new words and senses.
Disclaimer: No Business Standard Journalist was involved in creation of this content
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors


Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share


Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor


Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements


Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app
