The Atlantic Out Loud Whither the Dictionary?
Sep 15, 2025
Explore the challenges traditional dictionaries face in a digital world, highlighting Merriam-Webster's adaptations amidst declining viability. Discover how lexicographers strive for inclusivity while navigating changing language norms. Delve into the struggles of Digital Dictionary, grappling with financial setbacks during the pandemic and misaligned educational initiatives. Understand the future of lexicography, focusing on innovative strategies and social media engagement as the industry adapts to evolving complexities in language.
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Inside Merriam-Webster's Turbulent Shift
- Stefan Fatsis recounts joining Merriam-Webster in 2015 to document its digital overhaul and try to add definitions himself.
- He describes layoffs, management change, and cancellation of the unabridged revision after financial pressure forced cuts.
Golden Age Of Words, Shrinking Business
- The podcast argues we're in a golden age of public interest in words despite threats to dictionary businesses.
- Digital access and analytic tools advance linguistic study while market forces erode traditional dictionary models.
Dictionary.com’s Rapid Modernization
- Dictionary.com expanded its coverage with slang, emoji, and identity-related terms and added trendy entries like superfood and clicktivism.
- The site attracted billions of searches and positioned itself as a hip, fast-moving alternative to legacy dictionaries.
