In the 2026 Winter Word Drop, Dictionary.com added more than 1,500 new entries, with science and technology claiming the largest share—26%—signaling how quickly advancements in these areas enter our everyday conversations. At the same time, the update included 55 direct borrowings from other languages, 40% of which came from Japanese, reflecting a surge in global travel and cultural exchange.
“English has historically expanded during periods of significant scientific and cultural change,” said Steve Johnson, PhD, Director of Lexicography for the Dictionary Media Group at IXL Learning. “This update illustrates how AI innovation, conversations about health, international travel and digital communities are shaping our language in real time.”
This winter’s additions paint a clear picture: English speakers are looking outward for cultural influences, inward at trends shaping digital identity and toward scientific advancement. Some of these words are brand new; others—like infostealer—have existed for years but reached a tipping point in usage. Together, the 2026 Winter Word Drop captures English at this very moment.
AI is everywhere
As AI continues to dominate public discourse, new roles and terms are emerging to make sense of it.
- Prompt engineering (noun): the process of designing appropriate and effective inputs for a machine learning algorithm.
- Large language model (noun): LLM, a type of machine learning software model trained on extremely large sets of language data, and designed to generate new, naturalistic responses to written or spoken prompts.
- Auto-generated (adjective): produced or created by a computer program.
Online language remains a powerful engine of change, from gaming terms to internet-era metaphors. What begins in niche forums often ends up in mainstream headlines, with games terms like ‘side quest’ gaining recognition.
Lisa has represented Steel Media in a Business Development & Events Correspondent capacity for over 6 years. She has successfully navigated, and reported on, the changing landscape of transmedia as it crosses over with the games industry.
