We were very pleased to get the news today that the Australian National Dictionary Centre will be saved, thanks to an anonymous donation and the halt on involuntary redundancies under the Renew ANU plan. We thank everyone for their generous support through these difficult times.

Congratulations to the Australian National Dictionary Centre's director Amanda Laugesen. Her book 'Australia in 100 Words' has just been shortlisted for the 2025 Prime Minister's Literary Awards (Australian History).

The ANU is moving to kill the Australian National Dictionary – this is why it matters theconversation.com/the-anu-is-m...

www.australianbookreview.com.au/abr-online/c... It's only words, but words are all we've got... #SaveOurDictionary @ouranu.bsky.social

I can't believe ANU is proposing to disestablish ANDC @ozworders.bsky.social‬. Over the last 20 years of writing I've often consulted staff over the origins of obscure words and phrases. We need the dictionary to record and explain our changing language. www.smh.com.au/national/fro...

Australia can’t withstand further humanities cuts. Civil society depends on it. While universities have the right to determine their education & research priorities, no one in Australia has a handle on the effects of cuts & their impact on our national skills & knowledge capabilities. bit.ly/3TqI4jn

"Like all good culture wars, it was imported from the U.S.." Cracking good yarn by @andrewstafford.bsky.social in @australia.theguardian.com today on a 4 letter word beginning with "F". Music boffins will love this story a lot!! 🔥👩‍🎤 www.theguardian.com/music/2025/j...

'[T]he proposed closure of long-standing national infrastructure and capabilities—including the Humanities Research Centre, the European Studies Centre, and the Australian National Dictionary Centre...represents the loss of irreplaceable national assets.' humanities.org.au/news/alarm-o...

‘Greenlandisation’, sea ice, permafrost: how polar words explain a changing world theconversation.com/greenlandisa...

Eponymous adjective is real legacy. OED has "Lynchian" back to 1984.

"Colesworth" refers to the duopoly of Coles & Woolworths in Australia—a shorthand that carries a negative tone, often tied to price gouging and other controversies. Think of it as a linguistic critique of corporate power. #ThatWordChat

Ever heard of "colesworth"? #ANDC's 2024 #WordOfTheYear is a uniquely Australian term, blending the names of two supermarket giants: Coles and Woolworths. #ThatWordChat

Interestingly, "colesworth" isn't new! It appeared in Australian fiction as early as the 1930s. But its usage surged in 2023, reflecting current frustrations with the supermarket giants. #ThatWordChat

The Merriam-Webster Word of the Year for 2024 is ‘polarization.’ About half of you might take issue with this. www.merriam-webster.com/wordplay/wor...

Ha ha. Cool word of the year, Macquarie Dictionary. With, let’s face it, such a rich vein of application. I mean, pretty much the entire reason this here platform exists. Let’s hope, touch Laminex, it doesn’t fall prey. With thanks to @womensagenda.bsky.social.

Curious about the #etymology of "demure"? We all pretty much are, as its a bit obscure. Gotcha covered on my blog: mashedradish.com/2024/08/14/d...

Our Word of the Year for 2024 is 'Colesworth': used in reference to the perceived duopoly of Australia's largest supermarket retailers, Coles and Woolworths. For more about our choice, and shortlist: tinyurl.com/yeyn5tkp

OK, someone had to do it! Here's a starter pack for lexicography. Please send me additions (I tried—I'm sorry if I missed you)! Please share! #linguistics go.bsky.app/TjzjMVw

In light of the announcement of Matilda as our Word of the Year here is the Australian National Dictionary entry. It is sense 5 because it reflects the historical evidence - it is the latest sense of Matilda in Australian English which goes back to the 1880s when it meant a swag.