# New word question

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-word-question/199582>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [September 4, 2003, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-word-question/199582 "2003-09-04T18:58:17Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![insider](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/bbe5ce/32.png) [@insider](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/insider)\
**Post date:** [September 4, 2003, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-word-question/199582/1 "2003-09-04T18:58:17Z")

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How does a new English word become a new word? Are new words copywrited? Are they new words only if they appear in a dictionary? Over the past century has their been one individual who has the record for the creation of new words?

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**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\
**Post date:** [September 4, 2003, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-word-question/199582/2 "2003-09-04T19:44:06Z")

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Words aren’t copyrighted, though they can be trademarked.

Anyone can coin a word. I once coined “transphylite” to indicate someone who wants a species change operation. However, that’s meaningless. What matters is that people start using that word: it must fill a purpose. If enough people use it, the dictionary makers will include it. (I have a friend who’s trying to get the dictionaries to include a word he coined, “bytelock.”)

They’re new words if people recognize their meaning and use them. The dictionary only confirms that.

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**Author:** ![Skwerl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Skwerl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skwerl)\
**Post date:** [September 4, 2003, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-word-question/199582/3 "2003-09-04T19:49:39Z")

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I’d like to help your friend get that into the dictionary, but what does it mean so I’ll use it right?

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**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\
**Post date:** [September 4, 2003, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-word-question/199582/4 "2003-09-04T21:02:13Z")

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I guess I’m just cheap. I prefer used worded to new.

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**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\
**Post date:** [September 4, 2003, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-word-question/199582/5 "2003-09-04T21:04:41Z")

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Awww, Geeez. Contrary to the evidence, English _is_ my cradle language. I meant to say _words_