the oxford dictionary of new words

This edition presents Oxford's latest research into new words in the language, telling the story of around 2000 words and phrases prominent in the media or the public eye in the 1980s and 1990s. Covering words from all around the English-speaking world, it includes articles on Aga saga, Archie, Britpop, car bra, ecological footprint, feminazi, Japanimation, loved-up, mosh, Olestra, pink pound, waitron, youthism and zaitech. Each article explains the meaning of the word and uncovers the history behind its origin and use. The date of the earliest recorded usage of each word is given, along with any new derivatives it has generated. About 70 per cent of the articles are new to this edition, and 30 per cent are revised or newly-written articles for words in the first edition which are still sufficiently prominent to warrant attention or which have acquired a new focus in recent years. Graphic icons are used throughout the text to show the areas of life in which each word is used, with icons ranging from business, the environment, health and computing, to popular culture, people and society, leisure and lifestyle, and sport.