Australian National Dictionary Centre

A belated and no fanfare 2025 word of the year for the Centre. We chose 'social media ban'. And for all of you who say it's not a word: may your chooks turn into emus and kick your dunny down😀 Read all about it in the ANU Reporter. tinyurl.com/2w3afx49

Congratulations to Dr Bruce Moore on becoming an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO). Bruce was the director of the Australian National Dictionary Centre from 1994 to 2011. He was the Chief Editor of the Australian National Dictionary (2nd ed. 2016).

We were very pleased to get the news today that the Australian National Dictionary Centre will be saved, thanks to an anonymous donation and the halt on involuntary redundancies under the Renew ANU plan. We thank everyone for their generous support through these difficult times.

Congratulations to the Australian National Dictionary Centre's director Amanda Laugesen. Her book 'Australia in 100 Words' has just been shortlisted for the 2025 Prime Minister's Literary Awards (Australian History).

The ANU is moving to kill the Australian National Dictionary – this is why it matters The dictionary is a living, breathing and evolving record of how language is wrapped up in who we are as Australians. It is vital we protect it.

The ANU is moving to kill the Australian National Dictionary – this is why it matters
theconversation.com/the-anu-is-m...

‘The story of our language is the story of us: Will the Australian National Dictionary Centre go bung?’ by Amanda Laugesen and Frank Bongiorno The proposed abolition of the Australian National Dictionary Centre represents a significant retreat from the Australian National University’s long-standing commitment to supporting a national public ...

www.australianbookreview.com.au/abr-online/c... It's only words, but words are all we've got... #SaveOurDictionary @ouranu.bsky.social

Australian National Dictionary Centre could be shut down Follow the latest news headlines from Australia's most trusted source. Read in-depth expert analysis and watch live coverage on ABC News.

www.abc.net.au/news/2025-07...

From bluey to bogans: Researchers who help define how the nation speaks to lose their jobs For almost 40 years, the words the nation uses in speech, newspapers and books has been mapped by a small team at the Australian National Dictionary Centre.

I can't believe ANU is proposing to disestablish ANDC @ozworders.bsky.social‬. Over the last 20 years of writing I've often consulted staff over the origins of obscure words and phrases. We need the dictionary to record and explain our changing language. www.smh.com.au/national/fro...

Australia can't withstand further humanities cuts The Australian Academy of Humanities views with great concern the impact on staff, students and the wider community of the ANU’s plan for the humanities and social sciences. Now is not the time to red...

Australia can’t withstand further humanities cuts. Civil society depends on it.
While universities have the right to determine their education & research priorities, no one in Australia has a handle on the effects of cuts & their impact on our national skills & knowledge capabilities. bit.ly/3TqI4jn

Is the F-word offensive in Queensland? The tiny record shop that faced down a culture war in court – and won Brisbane’s Rocking Horse Records turns 50 this year – but it should also be celebrated for its role in facing down a ‘nonsense’ culture war that began with undercover cops and the Dead Kennedys

"Like all good culture wars, it was imported from the U.S.."

Cracking good yarn by @andrewstafford.bsky.social in @australia.theguardian.com today on a 4 letter word beginning with "F".

Music boffins will love this story a lot!! 🔥👩‍🎤
www.theguardian.com/music/2025/j...

AAH raise alarm over ANU cuts & the national capability at risk ANU restructuring of humanities & social sciences programs warning that the cuts pose a threat to Australia’s sovereign capability

'[T]he proposed closure of long-standing national infrastructure and capabilities—including the Humanities Research Centre, the European Studies Centre, and the Australian National Dictionary Centre...represents the loss of irreplaceable national assets.'

humanities.org.au/news/alarm-o...

Thanks Tom. Appreciate the share. Will add the evidence to our database.

Tricky one to pin down. We've collected evidence so far from mid-2021. There's several predicative senses of 'cooked' in the OED meaning 'extremely tired; exhausted; ruined; finished; .. intoxicated by alcohol, drugs' that might be related. Qanon followers are often known as 'bakers' but ..

‘Greenlandisation’, sea ice, permafrost: how polar words explain a changing world The polar regions are cold, remote and off-putting, but there are thousands of polar words in English – and not just words for snow and ice.

‘Greenlandisation’, sea ice, permafrost: how polar words explain a changing world
theconversation.com/greenlandisa...

How Australia developed its own vernaculuar - ABC listen Historian and Director of the Australian National Dictionary Centre Amanda Laugesen has chronicled the linguistic history of Australia, in 100 words. Guest: Amanda Laugesen, lexicographer, ANU Produce...

www.abc.net.au/listen/progr...

Screenshot of the entry for "Lynchian" in the Oxford English Dictionary.

Eponymous adjective is real legacy. OED has "Lynchian" back to 1984.

I forgot about 'Kwaussie' back in 2017: a Kiwi living in Aussie; NZ & Oz dual citizen; person of Aussie and Kiwi descent.

"Colesworth" refers to the duopoly of Coles & Woolworths in Australia—a shorthand that carries a negative tone, often tied to price gouging and other controversies. Think of it as a linguistic critique of corporate power. #ThatWordChat

Ever heard of "colesworth"? #ANDC's 2024 #WordOfTheYear is a uniquely Australian term, blending the names of two supermarket giants: Coles and Woolworths. #ThatWordChat

Interestingly, "colesworth" isn't new! It appeared in Australian fiction as early as the 1930s. But its usage surged in 2023, reflecting current frustrations with the supermarket giants. #ThatWordChat

2024 Word of the Year: Polarization Plus 'demure,' 'totality,' 'allision,' and other words that defined the year

The Merriam-Webster Word of the Year for 2024 is ‘polarization.’

About half of you might take issue with this.

www.merriam-webster.com/wordplay/wor...

Ha ha. Cool word of the year, Macquarie Dictionary. With, let’s face it, such a rich vein of application. I mean, pretty much the entire reason this here platform exists. Let’s hope, touch Laminex, it doesn’t fall prey. With thanks to @womensagenda.bsky.social.

Curious about the #etymology of "demure"? We all pretty much are, as its a bit obscure. Gotcha covered on my blog: mashedradish.com/2024/08/14/d...

Yes, we've certainly been talking about Ross Campbell's use of the term in the 1950s and 60s (still the earliest evidence we have). One of the interesting aspects of the word's history is the shift from humorous use to negative use. Our historical dictionary entry will illustrate this evolution.

And the word of the year is… ‘Colesworth’ (derogatory) | First Dog on the Moon Why does everyone blame supermarkets for the cost of living? Because it is their fault!

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Our Word of the Year for 2024 is 'Colesworth': used in reference to the perceived duopoly of Australia's largest supermarket retailers, Coles and Woolworths. For more about our choice, and shortlist: tinyurl.com/yeyn5tkp

OK, someone had to do it! Here's a starter pack for lexicography. Please send me additions (I tried—I'm sorry if I missed you)! Please share! #linguistics

go.bsky.app/TjzjMVw

In light of the announcement of Matilda as our Word of the Year here is the Australian National Dictionary entry. It is sense 5 because it reflects the historical evidence - it is the latest sense of Matilda in Australian English which goes back to the 1880s when it meant a swag.