Add an entry for "Trump" in the Merriam-Webster Dictionary
Add an entry for "Trump" in the Merriam-Webster Dictionary
The Issue
Over the past few years, the term "Trump" has taken on a distinctive and widely recognized meaning in contemporary discourse and popular culture. It has evolved beyond just being a proper noun or a surname, now embodying specific behaviors and actions. These include, but are not limited to, lying, cheating, or engaging in deceitful practices to financially or otherwise disadvantage someone. In essence, to "Trump" someone has become synonymous with conning or misleading individuals for personal gain.
Language is a living entity, consistently evolving with societal changes. Dictionaries like Merriam-Webster have the critical role of documenting and validating this evolution by recognizing and integrating words that gain widespread usage. By including "Trump" as a verb with this modern meaning, Merriam-Webster would not only be accurate in reflecting the current linguistic landscape, but it would also acknowledge the term's cultural significance and relevance.
Recognizing "Trump" in this context would also educate readers and language users about its connotative meanings, promoting a deeper understanding of its usage. With its inclusion, people can more effectively articulate their experiences and recognition of such behaviors, enhancing communication clarity.
Many words have been officially recognized for their informal or slang meanings once they become widely used in everyday language. It is time for Merriam-Webster to consider adopting this updated definition of "Trump" to both capture a historical linguistic shift and cater to the present-day communicative needs of the English-speaking community.
By signing this petition, we urge the editors of the Merriam-Webster Dictionary to evaluate the cultural and linguistic recognition of "Trump" as a verb representing deceit and conning actions. This addition will not only reflect current language trends but also offer clarity in defining expressions that many encounter in today's media. Please sign this petition to support linguistic accuracy and cultural relevancy in our dictionaries.
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The Issue
Over the past few years, the term "Trump" has taken on a distinctive and widely recognized meaning in contemporary discourse and popular culture. It has evolved beyond just being a proper noun or a surname, now embodying specific behaviors and actions. These include, but are not limited to, lying, cheating, or engaging in deceitful practices to financially or otherwise disadvantage someone. In essence, to "Trump" someone has become synonymous with conning or misleading individuals for personal gain.
Language is a living entity, consistently evolving with societal changes. Dictionaries like Merriam-Webster have the critical role of documenting and validating this evolution by recognizing and integrating words that gain widespread usage. By including "Trump" as a verb with this modern meaning, Merriam-Webster would not only be accurate in reflecting the current linguistic landscape, but it would also acknowledge the term's cultural significance and relevance.
Recognizing "Trump" in this context would also educate readers and language users about its connotative meanings, promoting a deeper understanding of its usage. With its inclusion, people can more effectively articulate their experiences and recognition of such behaviors, enhancing communication clarity.
Many words have been officially recognized for their informal or slang meanings once they become widely used in everyday language. It is time for Merriam-Webster to consider adopting this updated definition of "Trump" to both capture a historical linguistic shift and cater to the present-day communicative needs of the English-speaking community.
By signing this petition, we urge the editors of the Merriam-Webster Dictionary to evaluate the cultural and linguistic recognition of "Trump" as a verb representing deceit and conning actions. This addition will not only reflect current language trends but also offer clarity in defining expressions that many encounter in today's media. Please sign this petition to support linguistic accuracy and cultural relevancy in our dictionaries.
1
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Petition created on May 28, 2026