So, how does it get into the dictionary then?

 

So, how does it get into the dictionary then?

To put it simply a word gets into the dictionary when it becomes a popularly used word.

New words, such as slang and abbreviations are added to the dictionary once they start to appear across a substantial amount of sources and are regularly spoken.

Once a word is commonly used and there is an understanding of a common meaning it can be considered to be added to the dictionary.

The process is not instant though and can take years to appear in the dictionary.

To decide which words to include in the dictionary and to determine what they mean, Merriam-Webster editors study the language as it's used. They carefully monitor which words people use most often and how they use them.

Each day most Merriam-Webster editors devote an hour or two to reading a cross section of published material, including books, newspapers, magazines, and electronic publications; in our office this activity is called "reading and marking." The editors scour the texts in search of new words, new usages of existing words, variant spellings, and inflected forms–in short, anything that might help in deciding if a word belongs in the dictionary, understanding what it means, and determining typical usage. Any word of interest is marked, along with surrounding context that offers insight into its form and use.