'Plant-based' and ‘Oat Milk’ Added to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary
The new terms reflect the growing uptake in plant-based diets and sustainable food choices.
The words “plant-based” and “oat milk” have been officially added to the Merriam-Webster dictionary in a move that publicly acknowledges the rise of vegan eating.
The terms were added alongside 368 others and will join “pumpkin spice” in the dictionary’s food category. “Names of foods from around the world become familiar to us through menus, recipes, and cooking shows,” stated Merriam-Webster. “But homegrown flavors—particularly one that’s become (in)famously associated with autumn—also give us new words that need to be defined.”
Additionally, the iconic dictionary, which has been at the forefront of words and language information for around 194 years, has also added “greenwashing.” This is the act of making a product, policy, activity, etc. appear to be more environmentally friendly or less environmentally damaging than it really is. Other terms include “booster dose,” “sus,” and “lewk.”
Merriam-Webster has been publishing dictionaries since 1847 and launched its online version in the 1990s. To discover words to add to the dictionary, the editors carefully monitor which words people use most often and how they use them via social media, websites, media outlets, and more. The addition of “plant-based” and “oat milk” highlights the growing popularity of these terms within the public conversation.
“Some of these words will amuse or inspire, others may provoke debate. Our job is to capture the language as it is used,” said Peter Sokolowski, Editor at Large for Merriam-Webster. “Words offer a window into our ever-changing language and culture, and are only added to the dictionary when there is clear and sustained evidence of use.”
🎉🎉Great news!🎉🎉
— Merriam-Webster (@MerriamWebster) September 7, 2022
We added 370 new words to the dictionary!https://t.co/j8rXQMHX8t pic.twitter.com/HykpJWf3HW
The first-known use of the world “plant-based” occurred in 1960, according to Merriam Webster. The dictionary defines two meanings for the term: the first is when something is “made or derived from plants”, such as a plant-based burger or protein, while the second when something consists “primarily or entirely of food (such as vegetables, fruits, nuts, oils, and beans) derived from plants”.
Meanwhile, Merriam-Webster defines “oat milk” as "a liquid made from ground oats and water that is usually fortified (as with calcium and vitamins) and used as a milk substitute."
As the dairy and meat industries argue that “oat milk” and “plant-based meat” should not be used to prevent public confusion, the dictionary’s adoption of these new terms may help companies keep their labels and prevent the restriction of names certain products being limited only to those that are animal-derived.
The rise of “plant-based”
The rise of plant-based eating has increased tremendously over the last few years as consumers look to protect the earth, animals and their own health through their food choices. The Guardian estimates that there are 79 million vegans around the world and a 2022 study found that 1 in 10 Americans - a record number - say they no longer eat meat.
Plant-based foods offer an alternative to people who want to reduce their impact but still consume foods that have a similar taste and texture to traditional animal products. This growing demand has led to a surge of plant-powered items on supermarket shelves, from meats and fish to milks and cheeses, and according to the Good Food Institute, the sales of plant-based foods grew three times faster than overall food sales in 2021.
Our choices matter to animals. Do you think you could embrace plant-based living for 30 days? We do. This October, sign up for the Species Unite 30-Day Vegan Challenge to discover a whole new world, from recipes that will trick your most carnivorous friends to shoes, boots and bags made from some of the most magical plants on the planet. Take part here!
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