Cambridge Dictionary: ‘Delulu’, ‘Skibidi’, ‘Lewk’ among 6000 new words added in 2025

The Cambridge Dictionary may have people wondering if the English language has lost the plot, after it added words that sound like they are straight from TikTok.

In its most recent update, Cambridge has added a whopping 6000 new words to the official English lexicon, including a wave of new slang inspired by social media.

In what may cause English teachers everywhere to reach for a red pen, words like delulu, tradwife, lewk, and skibidi are no longer just bouncing around social media and in conversations youth — they are dictionary official.

Popularised by Gen Z and Gen Alpha, these additions reflect a shift in how digital culture continues to shape mainstream vocabulary.

“Tradwife”, short for “traditional wife,” is used to describe a social media trend where some women embrace conventional domestic roles, sparking ongoing debate over gender norms.

“Skibidi”, a word made viral by the YouTube series Skibidi Toilet, has also been added. The term is described as having multiple meanings, ranging from “cool” to “bad,” or, in many cases, no meaning at all.

Kim Kardashian helped popularise the term after her 12-year-old daughter, North West, gifted her a necklace with the phrase featured on it.

The dictionary defines “delulu”, short for delusional, as “believing things that are not real or true, usually because you choose to.”

It cites a 2025 speech in which Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese used the phrase “delulu with no solulu” during a parliamentary debate.

“Internet culture is changing the English language and the effect is fascinating to observe and capture in the dictionary,” said Cambridge Dictionary’s Lexical Programme Manager Colin McIntosh.

“It’s not every day you get to see words like ‘skibidi’ and ‘delulu’ make their way into the Cambridge Dictionary. We only add words where we think they’ll have staying power.”

Other new entries include “lewk”, a stylised spelling of “look” used to describe an unusual or impressive outfit, popularised by RuPaul’s Drag Race.

“Broligarchy”, another blended term, has also been added. Merging “bro” and “oligarchy”, it means a “small group of men, especially men owning or involved in a technology business, who are extremely rich and powerful, and who have or want political influence.”

More practical additions reflect changes in daily life and work culture.

“Mouse jiggler”, for example, refers to a device or software that simulates computer activity to prevent screens from going idle, particularly useful for remote workers hoping to appear online.

The dictionary also added “inspo”, short for “inspiration,” and “forever chemical”, a term for long-lasting man-made substances that remain in the environment and have been linked to health and environmental risks.