Oxford English Dictionary Adds Additional Meaning for Tweet to Dictionary

Posted on June 24, 2013

CNN reports that the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) has added an additional meaning for the word "tweet" to its online dictionary. The new meaning is for the type of tweeting humans do on Twitter. John Simpson, chief editor of OED, says the dictionary broke its own rules in order to add the new meaning. The new meaning had already been included in the Concise Oxford English Dictionary.

Simpson wrote in the dictionary's June update, "A new word needs to be current for ten years before consideration for inclusion. But it seems to be catching on."

Ten years is far too long to wait before adding new words. New terms become part of the mainstream in much shorter time spans these days thanks to the Internet. The dictionary is wise to revise its policy.

You can find the OED's tweet definition here. The definition is: "To make a posting on the social networking service Twitter. Also: to use Twitter regularly or habitually."