Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Merriam-Webster's New 'Time Traveler' Feature Answers--What Words Were 'Born' The Year You Were?

Merriam-Webster's New 'Time Traveler' Feature Answers--What Words Were 'Born' The Year You Were?
@MerriamWebster/Twitter

If you've ever wondered what other cool things made their splashy debut besides you on your birthday, Merriam-Webster has you covered.

The authority on English words rolled out a new "Time Traveler" feature on their website that reveals what words first appeared in print on the year of your birth.



The feature is easy to use. Just click over to the Merriam-Webster website and enter the year of interest.

A vast cornucopia of words populate – some familiar, some foreign - and it becomes a fascinating way to unexpectedly expand your vocabulary.

Some discoveries may surprise you. For instance, the words "blogger" and "texting" existed longer than you would think. They both became prominent as far back as 1999.

Did you know that "chat room" and "crackhead" debuted the same year? It was in 1986.

And "Mickey Mouse" officially entered our vernacular in the same year as "nazi" did in 1930.

Twitter shared their hilarious responses to their search.









One user had a question about the frequency at which new words emerged. Was there a patten?



The joy of discovery continues.






Not everyone was amused with the results shared with their birth year.


Others saw the results making a lot of sense.





What joys will you find in your search? Go back in time and prepare to get 'woke.'


H/T - MerriamWebster, Twitter, Mashable, News18

More from

Yassamin Ansari; Screenshot of Kellyanne Conway
Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images; Fox News

Dem Rep. Epically Shuts Down Kellyanne Conway's Claim Sydney Sweeney Ad Is Causing Liberal 'Panic'

Actor Sydney Sweeney recently faced backlash over her American Eagle ad campaign titled “Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans.” The campaign plays on the words “jeans” and “genes,” which some critics claim alludes to eugenics—a theory widely discredited as scientifically inaccurate and ethically dangerous.

According to former presidential counselor Kellyanne Conway—who gave us the term "alternative facts"—the campaign has sparked "panic on the left."

Keep ReadingShow less
Lisa Kudrow in 'Death to 2020'
Netflix

Lisa Kudrow's Portrayal Of A MAGA Spokesperson Resurfaces—And It's Eerily Accurate

Actor Lisa Kudrow has gone viral after her performance in the Netflix mockumentary Death to 2020 as a truth-denying spokesperson for President Donald Trump went viral—prompting many to point out that her portrayal is still spot on.

The film, from the minds of Black Mirror creators Charlie Brooker and Annabel Jones, centers on a group of fictional characters reflecting on major U.S. and U.K. events of 2020, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the U.S. presidential election.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshot of Molly Martinez
RSBN

White House Reporter Reacts After Video Glitch Sparks Conspiracy Theory That She's A 'Lizard Person'

White House reporter Molly Martinez responded after a White House livestream glitched and caused her eyes to look completely white for a split-second—prompting conspiracy theorists to go wild and claim she is a "lizard person" who is secretly controlling the government.

Martinez, a Washington-based journalist for local TV chain Gray Television, appeared on camera June 19 in the White House press room, smiling at a friend. A glitch in the original footage made her eyes look entirely white—something conspiracy theorists seized on as “evidence” she’s a lizard person.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshot of Ben Ferguson and Abby Philip
CNN

Right-Wing Podcaster Blasted After Making Absurd Claim About Trump And Crime Rates In 2024

Conservative podcaster Ben Ferguson left hs fellow CNN panelists stunned after he made the bizarre claim that falling crime rates in 2024 were due to President Donald Trump's policies—even though Trump didn't begin his second term until January 2025.

Ferguson spoke after Trump—who presented fake crime statistics—announced his decision to federalize police in Washington, D.C., and deploy the National Guard in an effort to fight crime.

Keep ReadingShow less
A bride and a groom holding hands
man and woman holding hands focus photo

People Who Attended Multiple Weddings For The Same Person Describe The Differences

Weddings are a wonderful celebration of love and commitment.

That being said, all of us have likely been to a wedding where we have wondered "how long do you think it's going to last".

Keep ReadingShow less