or

Words to watch in April

There are some timely and topical words running through our selection of new words this month. 

Three words, bothsidesism, infodemic and zombie fact have links to public discourse. Bothsidesism, or false balance, is when the media gives equal footing to two sides of an unequal argument, for example on climate change or vaccinations. An infodemic is an excess of available information makes finding credible sources difficult. Social media feeds during the coronavirus epidemic are a prime example of an infodemic. Then there is a zombie fact, a theory that won’t go away even when disproven. Perhaps infodemics might even contribute to the creation of zombie facts

COVID-19 is the official name given the coronavirus that originated in China at the end of 2019. It’s good to stay optimisitic but forcing yourself into a positive, happy mood regardless of the situation, to the point of denying your real emotions is described as toxic positivity

On a different note, hench is a word used to describe fit and muscular men. 

How many of the below words do you think merit a place in The Macquarie Dictionary?

Let us know if you have any other suggestions. We are always happy to hear new words, no matter how big or small a usage they may have. Be sure to vote for some of these when we post them on our Instagram stories.

See other words suggested to the Macquarie Dictionary here.

New words square - bothsidesism aka false balance, when media provides equal footing to two sides of an unequal argument. For example, climate change or vaccinations

isolationship	an existing relationship that meets new challenges  in mandatory isolation together.

New words square - COVID-19 - an acute form of pneumonia caused by a coronavirus which first appeared in China in 2019

New words square - hench - an adjective usually referring to a man who is fit and muscular

New words square - infodemic - an excess of available information that makes finding a solution or credible sources much more difficult

New words square - toxic positivity - to force oneself into a positive, happy mood regardless of the situation, in the belief this is the best way to live, in the process, denying real emotional responses

New words square - zombie fact - a theory that won't go away even after being disproven, because it has some basis in science. For example, humans only use 10 of their brains

New words- coronaracism - racism at people perceived to be of Chinese descent around COVID-19

Featured Articles