thirstwave noun [C]
UK /ˈθɜːstweɪv/ US /ˈθɝːstweɪv/
a period of hot, dry weather that causes soil and plants to lose a very large amount of water to evaporation

During a thirstwave, the atmosphere essentially goes into overdrive, demanding more moisture than usual. From 1981 to 2021, thirstwaves across the United States averaged 0.8 millimeters per day above normal, lasted about 4 days, and occurred nearly 3 times per growing season.
[earth.com, 14 April 2025]

firewave noun [C]
UK /ˈfaɪəweɪv/ US /ˈfaɪrweɪv/
a series of fires that burn strongly and out of control on an area of grass in a city, usually triggered by very hot weather

Cities across the UK are facing a growing threat from an emerging phenomenon called “firewaves” as temperatures rise due to climate change, scientists have warned. Guillermo Rein, professor of fire science at Imperial College London, has been working alongside the London Fire Brigade to help predict when conditions are ripe for a “firewave”.
[bbc.co.uk, 14 August 2025]

smog wave noun [C]
UK /ˈsmɒg ˌweɪv/ US /ˈsmɑːg ˌweɪv/
a period of extreme and long-lasting air pollution, where a mixture of smoke, gases, and chemicals in the atmosphere make it difficult to breathe and can be harmful for health

Authorities in eastern Pakistan have closed public parks, zoos, museums, historical buildings and playgrounds for 10 days as a record-breaking “smog wave” choked 18 districts of Punjab province, leaving tens of thousands of people ill. Lahore residents went about their lives in a twilight gloom that lingered over the city for hours, reducing visibility to around 100 metres.
[jerseyeveningpost.com, 8 November 2024]

About new words

best friend dictionary noun [C]
UK /ˌbest frend ˈdɪk.ʃᵊn.ᵊr.i/ US /ˌbest frend ˈdɪk.ʃᵊn.er.i/
a set of inside jokes and made-up words and phrases used by close friends

You know you’re bonded with your best friend when you develop words and phrases of your own, almost like a secret language. On TikTok, this tradition has been dubbed the “best friend dictionary” and it already has millions of views … The best friend dictionary is iconic, but even more impressive is how quickly everyone partaking in this trend seems to know the definitions.
[bustle.com, 14 May 2024]

friendflation noun [U]
/frendˈfleɪ.ʃᵊn/
the rising cost of going out with friends

Can you put a price on friendship? Apparently you can, and it isn’t cheap. The rising cost of socialising, known as “friendflation”, is “becoming a serious pressure point” for many adult friendships, said The Mirror. “Birthdays aren’t just a few drinks at the pub, they’re weekends away, lavish brunches or fancy dinners”, and “even going for a coffee is nearly a fiver”.
[theweek.com, 1 October 2025]

medium friend noun [C]
/ˈmiː.di.əm ˌfrend/
someone who is closer than an acquaintance but not a very close friend

I personally don’t think that it makes sense to go around calling people medium friends to their face. This term is more about internal taxonomy so that you can name and understand the phenomenon without feeling like you’re the only person experiencing this or feeling bad for it.
[reeswrites.com, 1 June 2025]

About new words

ber month noun [C, usually plural]
UK /ˈbɜː ˌmʌnθ/ US /ˈbɝː ˌmʌnθ/
one of September, October, November or December

The ber months are calling. Whether it’s September’s gentle sun, October’s adventures, November’s tropical retreats or December’s festive warmth, there’s a perfect escape waiting for you. Imagine waking up to golden beaches, exploring vibrant cities or discovering wellness retreats that leave you completely recharged.
[notjusttravel.com, 4 September 2025]

October theory noun [S]
UK /ɒkˈtəʊ.bə ˌθɪə.ri/ US /ɑːkˈtoʊ.bɚ ˌθɪr.i/
the belief that October is a like a second New Year, giving people the chance to set new goals and make important life changes

Many users across the platform have increasingly been posting about the “October theory,” and what that means for the rest of the year. According to Chloe Van Berkel, a content creator on TikTok, October is almost like New Year’s Day. The month kicks off the start of the fourth quarter of the year … a reflective period in which people look back on their year to see what they’ve accomplished.
[independent.co.uk, 3 October 2024]

summerween noun [C or U]
UK /ˌsʌm.ə.ˈwiːn/ US /ˌsʌm.ɚ.ˈwiːn/
a celebration of Halloween held in the summer instead of on 31 October

Summerween is a playful blend of summer vibes and Halloween thrills. Imagine sipping your favorite icy drink while surrounded by spooky skeletons and glowing pumpkins. It’s the best of both worlds! This quirky trend is catching on, giving Halloween enthusiasts an extra reason to celebrate and decorate months in advance.
[parade.com, 14 July 2025]

About new words

lawnmower poetry noun [U]
UK /ˈlɔːnˌməʊ.ə ˌpəʊ.ɪ.tri/ US /ˈlɑːnˌmoʊ.ɚ ˌpoʊ.ə.tri/
a type of poetry that uses the image of the lawnmower and the act of mowing the lawn to explore a variety of themes

British poets including Philip Larkin and Andrew Motion have driven a “lawnmower poetry” microgenre, using the machine to explore childhood, masculinity, violence, addiction, mortality and much more, new research shows. “Lawnmower poetry had its highpoint in the late 20th century but now would be a good moment for a revival,” says the study’s author, Francesca Gardner, from Cambridge’s English Faculty and St Catharine’s College.
[cam.ac.uk, 17 May 2025]

mood reading noun [U]
/ˈmuːd ˌriː.dɪŋ/
a method of choosing books to read based on the way you feel at the time, rather than reading books in a fixed order

I wrote about this recently when talking about tackling my TBR pile, but mood reading has a lot going for it. Only you know what you feel like reading, what aligns with your emotions. Don’t force a book on yourself, pick according to whatever mood you’re in. If that’s classic 80’s horror or a romance novel with werewolves, so be it.
[bookshelfdiscovery.com, 20 July 2025]

booktivist noun [C]
UK /ˈbʊk.tɪ.vɪst/ US /ˈbʊk.tə.vɪst/
a person who uses what they read in books to help them try to bring about political or social change

Guides invent 72 new “empowering” badges that reflect their lives. Among them is a badge called … “booktivist”, a portmanteau of “book” and “activist” that aims to help girls discover what empowers them through reading.
[thetimes.com, 21 July 2025]

About new words

vibe coding noun [U]
UK /ˈvaɪb ˌkəʊ.dɪŋ/ US /ˈvaɪb ˌkoʊ.dɪŋ/
a way of creating computer programs using AI to generate code from prompts, focusing on what the program should do rather than on the details of the code itself

What is vibe coding? A computer scientist explains what it means to have AI write computer code − and what risks that can entail. Now, just as you can ask ChatGPT to spin up a recipe for a favorite dish, you can now ask generative AI tools to write computer code for you. Andrej Karpathy, an OpenAI co-founder who previously led AI efforts at Tesla, recently termed this “vibe coding.”
[theconversation.com, 4 June 2025]

glazing noun [U]
/ˈgleɪ.zɪŋ/
the tendency of AI programs to use excessive praise and flattery towards the user

Everyone’s panicking about AI “glazing.” Even if you’ve never heard the Gen-Z slang, you probably know what I’m talking about—that tendency of ChatGPT to shower you with praise, calling every mediocre idea “brilliant” and every half-baked thought “insightful.”
[jeremyutleydesign.com, 28 July 2025]

AEO noun [U]
UK /ˌeɪ.iːˈəʊ/ US /ˌeɪ.iːˈoʊ/
abbreviation for “answer engine optimization”: a form of SEO that allows AI tools to answer users’ specific questions, instead of simply giving links to websites

AEO is a digital marketing strategy focused on optimizing content to directly answer user queries in search engine results. [It] focuses on answering user questions directly. Rather than simply targeting keywords, AEO targets specific queries. These are often phrased as questions and aim to deliver the most relevant, concise answer possible.
[aioseo.com, 14 August 2025]

About new words

SIM farm noun [C]
UK /ˈsɪm ˌfɑːm/ US /ˈsɪm ˌfɑːrm/
a device that can hold several SIM cards, used by criminals to send very large numbers of texts and calls at the same time, with the aim of defrauding people

The new offence will make the possession or supply of SIM farms without a legitimate reason illegal, shutting down a key route used by criminals to exploit the public, and will carry an unlimited fine in England and Wales and a £5,000 fine in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
[www.gov.uk, 24 April 2025]

scam farm noun [C]
UK /ˈskæm ˌfɑːm/ US /ˈskæm ˌfɑːrm/
an organized network of people who, often against their will, participate in criminal activities that involve defrauding people

Scam farms are organised criminal operations where scams are run at scale, often through call centres or coordinated online activity. But what’s more disturbing is the growing link between scam farms and human trafficking. Some scam farm workers have been lured with fake job offers, only to have their passports taken, their communications monitored, and their lives threatened.
[https://cyberwardens.com.au, 19 July 2025]

FaaS noun [U]
/ˌef.eɪ.eɪˈes/
abbreviation for “farming as a service”: a business model where farmers rent specialized machinery, technology, and services as they need them rather than buying them

FaaS startups are improving agriculture by offering end-to-end solutions for sustainable and tech-driven farming. From precision agriculture to farm electrification, these 10 innovative startups are reshaping food production in 2025.
[startus-insights.com, 1 March 2025]

About new words

blobbery noun [C]
UK /ˈblɒb.ᵊr.i/ US /ˈblɑː.bɚ.i/
a garden, or a garden design, where shrubs and bushes have been cut into round shapes and arranged in a way that creates a landscape of blobs

Although the blobbery is a new trend, there is a rich history of incorporating blob-like shapes into topiary. You can create a blobbery with all one plant, or mix up shrubs with different textures and colours – but either way, creating an area of flowing, curved topiary shapes will add year-round structure and interest to any garden.
[countryliving.com, 2 August 2025]

meadowscaping noun [U]
UK /ˈmed.əʊ.ˌskeɪp.ɪŋ/ US /ˈmed.oʊ.ˌskeɪp.ɪŋ/
a trend where carefully maintained lawns and flowerbeds in a garden are replaced with meadows of wild flowers to look more natural and to attract more bees and other insects

If mowing your lawn feels more like a chore than a joy, or you’re craving a backyard that feels more like nature than a golf course, it might be time to consider meadowscaping. This growing gardening trend is about swapping traditional lawns for vibrant wildflower meadows, spaces that are beautiful, low-maintenance, and bursting with life.
[eatliveescape.com, 5 August 2005]

chaos gardening noun [U]
UK /ˈkeɪ.ɒs ˌgɑː.dᵊn.ɪŋ/ US /ˈkeɪ.ɑːs ˌgɑːr.dᵊn.ɪŋ/
a gardening trend where a mix of seeds is sown randomly, resulting in a garden where flowers of many different colours and types grow together with no uniform design

I first heard the term “chaos gardening” on TikTok, where thousands of videos have surfaced depicting backyard gardeners mixing random seeds together in a mason jar, sprinkling them into a garden bed or bare spot of their yard, and essentially hoping for the best.
[veranda.com, 11 June 2025]

About new words

land snorkelling noun [U]
UK /ˈlænd ˌsnɔː.kᵊl.ɪŋ/ US /ˈlænd ˌsnɔːr.kəl.ɪŋ/
the activity of exploring a landscape slowly on foot, concentrating on the details that can be seen in your surroundings, in a similar way to snorkelling in water

We all know what snorkelling in the sea is, but have you heard of land snorkelling? Thankfully, this new hiking trend doesn’t require a pair of flippers or a snorkel; it’s all about slowing yourself down, wandering through nature, and having full awareness of your surroundings. With land snorkelling, it’s all about the journey, not the destination.
[t3.com, 29 May 2025]

stopover-cation noun [C]
UK /ˈstɒpəʊ.və.ˌkeɪ.ʃᵊn/ US /ˈstɑːpˌoʊ.vɚˌkeɪ.ʃᵊn/
a holiday trend where travellers spend time in the city where their flight has a stopover, before continuing on to their main destination

The “stopover-cation” is the latest travel trend that turns your stop-over into a stay-over. Rather than allowing the minimum 2-3 hour pit-stop between connecting international flights, you give yourself 24 hours or more to explore the stopover city, en route to your final destination.
[travel.nine.com.au, 18 February 2025]

townsizing noun [U]
/ˈtaʊn.saɪ.zɪŋ/
a trend where travellers visit smaller, quieter towns and villages rather than the better-known big tourist cities

Townsizing taps into Gen Z’s longing for sustainability, authenticity, and local engagement. Destinations that offer cultural richness, history, and natural beauty, such as quaint European villages or rural towns in Asia, are becoming highly appealing. This trend is having a profound impact on rural tourism, which could see significant growth in the coming years.
[travelandtourworld.com, 11 July 2025]

See also downsizing

About new words