# 'Mouse Potato' and 'Google' are among dictionary's new words By Greg Ponesse | Published 2006-07-11 | Pop Culture Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mouse-potato-google-are-among-dictionarys-new-words References: [mywesttexas](http://www.mywesttexas.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=16899895&BRD=2288&PAG=461&dept_id=475591&rfi=6) Need tips on how to groom a unibrow or soul patch? Just google it. Or get a mouse potato to do it for you. If you're still lost, grab the latest edition of Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary for a definition of those and about 100 other words that have made their way into its pages. But be warned: you might come across a drama queen (a person given to often excessively emotional performances or reactions), an empty suit (an ineffectual executive), or a himbo (an attractive but vacuous man -- think "male bimbo".) "We try to have a mix that addresses the wide range of people's information needs when adding new words," said John Morse, president of the Springfield-based dictionary publisher. "It could be a technical term or some light-hearted slang that sends people to a dictionary." To make it into the dictionary, a word has to be more than a flash-in-the-pan fad. It needs staying power. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 2.8/10 - Popularity: 65% | Activity: 11% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Pop Culture](https://www.trendhunter.com/popculture) > [Media](https://www.trendhunter.com/media) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Digital Information Access:** The inclusion of 'google' and 'mouse potato' in the dictionary indicates the trend of relying heavily on digital platforms for information access. - **Slang and Informal Language:** The addition of informal words like 'drama queen' and 'himbo' reflects the trend of embracing and mainstreaming slang and informal language in formal settings. - **Cultural Relevance:** The dictionary's inclusion of words like 'unibrow' and 'soul patch' shows the trend of acknowledging and documenting cultural phenomena and trends in language. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Digital Technology:** The increasing reliance on digital platforms for information access presents opportunities for innovation in digital technology and internet-based services. - **Publishing and Content Creation:** The mainstreaming of slang and informal language creates opportunities for content creators and publishers to cater to a diverse linguistic landscape. - **Language and Culture Studies:** The recognition and documentation of cultural phenomena in language offer opportunities for researchers and educators in the field of language and culture studies. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Inclusive Spell-Checking Tools](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/witty-works.md) - [Word Guessing Game Acquisitions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/quordle.md) - [Interactive Language Tools](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ai-dictionary.md) - [No-Network Dependent Browsing Tools](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/helpful-suggestions.md) - [Word Search Phone Games](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/word-hunter.md) - [Mentally Stimulating Game Collections](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fresh-words-word-game.md) - [Web-Based Word Game Celebrations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/new-york-times-games.md) - [Collaborative Daily Word Games](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tumblewords.md) - [Gen Z Slang Translators](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/student-slang-translators.md)