Three internet slang terms – “skibidi,” “delulu,” and “tradwife” – have made it onto the Cambridge Dictionary’s list of newly added words, reflecting the power of online culture to shape the English language.
Internet dictionaries, including Merriam-Webster, Oxford University Press, and Collins Dictionary, are now recognizing the influence of social media on language usage. The rise of these nonsensical words and others highlights the evolving nature of internet culture.
Cambridge Dictionary’s lexical program manager Colin McIntosh explained that only words with staying power are added to the dictionary. Internet culture is changing English, and dictionaries aim to capture this phenomenon.
The terms “skibidi,” “delulu,” and “tradwife” were among those added by Cambridge, while Merriam-Webster and Oxford University Press had already recognized their usage online.
According to definitions, “skibidi” can have various meanings or no meaning at all, used often in Gen Alpha communication, born in the 2010s. “Delulu” refers to a person who believes things that aren’t real or true, usually with a humorous tone.
Tradwife is defined as a married woman, especially one who posts on social media, doing household chores and childcare. The popularity of these terms also ties into traditional gender roles.
The Cambridge Dictionary noted the influence of users in the “broligarchy,” a term describing a small group of men holding significant power within technology and politics.
Source: https://www.axios.com/2025/08/18/skibidi-tradwife-delulu-cambridge-dictionary