On Point with Meghna Chakrabarti The once and future dictionary
Dec 12, 2025
Stefan Fatsis, a seasoned journalist and author with a deep passion for lexicography, dives into the evolution of dictionaries in the digital age. He shares his journey from receiving his first dictionary at 11 to embedding at Merriam-Webster to explore word histories. Fatsis discusses the fascinating processes behind word inclusion, including the addition of terms like 'microaggression' and the quirky debate around 'sheeple.' He also confronts the challenges posed by AI and online traffic, pondering the future relevance of dictionaries as cultural touchstones.
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Childhood Gift That Sparked A Career
- Stefan Fatsis received Webster's New World Dictionary for his 11th birthday and treasures it to this day.
- The book's pictures and word discoveries sparked his lifelong fascination with language and lexicography.
Embedded Inside Merriam‑Webster
- Fatsis embedded at Merriam‑Webster and worked as a definer, creating about 90 definitions himself.
- He researched in Merriam's card catalog and archives to write biographies of words for his book.
Paper Archives Still Matter
- Lexicographers historically relied on 'reading and marking' before digital databases existed.
- Merriam still keeps a 16 million slip card catalog documenting word evolution into the digital era.
