8 English Words You Need For 2021

https://oxfordhousebcn.com/en/8-english-words-you-need-for-2021/

Back in December 2019, we sat down and attempted to make a list

of words you’d need for 2020. No one could have predicted the year
that was about to unfold. Nor, could we imagine the vortex of new
words needed to make sense of the pandemic.
For the Oxford English Dictionary, it was a year for unprecedented
language – with ‘pandemic’, ‘coronavirus’ and ‘quarantine’ all listed
as words of the year.
We also had to learn how to ‘zoom’, ‘bubble up’ and use ‘forehead
thermometers.’ We clapped for ‘key workers’ and ‘sheltered-in-
place.’
But now as we close the door to 2020, we’ll do our best to predict
the words you’ll need for the year ahead. Let’s take a look at 8
English words for 2021:

Coronavirus and the pandemic

1. Clofficewear (n)
Definition: clothes that can be worn both at home and at work.
As we move into January, many of us will continue to work from
home (WFH) or part-time from the office. So, ‘clofficewear’ will still
be a popular word in 2021.
Clofficewear is a compound noun of the words ‘closet’ and ‘office.’ A
closet, if you don’t already know, is the American word for a
wardrobe. And ‘wear’ is another word for clothes.
So, what’s an example of clofficewear? Think leggings and a t-shirt
with a collar. To others, it might look like you’re wearing a pair of
smart work trousers or a crisp white shirt. But in reality, your outfit is
just as comfortable as a pair of pyjamas.
And, it doesn’t look like clofficewear is going anywhere soon. The
sale of spandex is currently up 60%!
2. Maskne (n)
Definition: the spots you get on the face from wearing a mask.
The stress caused by the pandemic – combined with wearing a
mask for months on end – is having an effect on people’s skin. Now,
lots of people are talking about ‘maskne.”
Maskne is the combination of the ‘mask’ and ‘acne.’ It’s caused by a
face mask rubbing on your skin.

3. #Vaccinated (adj)
Definition: the hashtag you post once you receive the Covid-19
vaccine.
Vaccines against Covid-19 are beginning to rollout. Once people get
vaccinated, many will want to share the good news.
So, expect to see an outpouring of the hashtag ‘#vaccinated’
trending on social media in the near future.

The internet and social media

4. Sharent (n)
Definition: a parent who uses social media to share photos or
other information about their child.
Chances are you know a ‘sharent’. Who knows? You may even be
one.
A sharent is a portmanteau of the words ‘share’ and ‘parent’. It
comes from the phenomenon of parents excessively sharing
information about their children on social media.
Let’s not get it wrong. A sharent is not someone who offers a
simple brag now and again. It’s a parent who shares every little
detail about their children’s lives (cue the tweet about last night’s
dirty nappies ).

5. Techlash (n)
Definition: a strong negative reaction against the largest tech
companies.
Growing hostility towards the tech giants is causing ‘techlash’. This
is a combination of the words ‘tech’ (short for technology) and
‘backlash’ (a strong negative reaction caused by a large number of
people).
Many well-known companies experienced techlash in
2020. Amazon failed to adhere to Covid-19 safety measures.
And Facebook received criticism over the lack of fact-checking on
political advertisements.

Race and gender politics

6. Allyship (n)
Definition: people with power and privilege working together to
improve the lives of those from a marginalized group.
Last year, we saw an increase of online activism and people talking
about Black Lives Matter and BLM.
‘Allyship’, however, is a lot more than this. It is about actively
supporting people and groups that experience discrimination. It is
an ongoing process that requires genuine action, both offline and in
private.

7. Shecession (n)
Definition: an economic crisis that disproportionately affects
women.
The 2008 recession was known as the ‘mancession’. But the
economic crisis caused by the pandemic has caused greater
economic difficulties for women. This has led to what newspapers
are calling a ‘shecession’.
Back in April 2020, women accounted for 55% of the 20.5 million
jobs lost in the U.S. The leisure, retail, education and hospitality
industries were hit hardest last year, and these are industries that
generally employ more women, particularly those who are Black or
Latina.

Let’s end on a high note…

8. Resilience (n)
Definition: the ability to recover from difficulties.
Whereas publishers like Merriam Webster and Collins Dictionary
chose ‘pandemic’ and ‘lockdown’ as their Words of the Year, Forbes
and Thrive Global founder Arianna Huffington opted for ‘resilience’.
Resilience suggests hope, optimism and the opportunity for growth.
And, we think it’s the perfect word to carry us into 2021.

Glossary for Language Learners

Find the following words in the article and then write down any new
ones you didn’t know.
Unfold (v): to develop or happen.
Bubble up (v): to form a support bubble or become one household
with another person.
Shelter-in-place (v): an official order that asks people to stay
indoors.
Crisp (adj): a perfectly ironed shirt.
Portmanteau (n): a word that blends the sounds and combines the
meanings of two other words. Eg. motel or brunch.
Brag (v): to speak with too much pride.
Nappies (n): diapers (BrE).
Ongoing (adj): continuous.
Key
v = verb
adj = adjective
n = noun