As culture changes, so do the meanings of words. The word "gay" has undergone a dramatic change from it's classical meaning of "happy" or "merry," to it's contemporary meaning of "homosexual" (e.g., "a gay man"), to it's common slang usage meaning "bad" or "stupid" (e.g., "that's so gay"). Unfortunately, the last definition is getting ever more popular.

Merriam-Webster.com has the "homosexual" definition of gay all the way down at number four. When was the last time you heard someone describe someone as "gay" and thought they meant the person was "happy," "bright," or "given to social pleasures?" If you're under 30 years old, you can't likely think of one example. If you're older, you might have a few, but they aren't likely recent occurrences.

I think it's about time that Merriam-Webster (and other dictionaries) update their definitions to prioritize the widely accepted meaning that gay = homosexual. Let's affirm this definition in the books so we can teach young people the correct way to use a word that is slung around so thoughtlessly.