Archive · 19 Sep 2026
How Disappearing Words Reflect Our Changing Social Lives
Some English words disappear because people stop needing or using them.
Words like “biffin” and “flype” are now mostly remembered in dictionaries.
New words are added when society creates new habits and ideas.
The article says technology has replaced many small conversations in shops, banks, offices and taxis.
People can now communicate without speaking face to face.
One study found that texting and social-media contact felt less satisfying than meeting in person, while phone calls were viewed more positively.
At the same time, many people are seeking quiet holidays and peaceful spaces.
Research also shows that more young people in England report having no close friends.
The article says technology may be part of wider changes that include the pandemic, economic pressure and fewer communal spaces.
Words such as “snollygoster,” “biffin,” “flype” and “frutescent” have largely vanished from everyday use.
Dictionaries may label uncommon words archaic or obsolete, though “snollygoster” returned to Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary in 2017 after renewed use.
The Oxford English Dictionary added more than 900 words, phrases and senses in its June 2026 update.
Digital services have replaced many brief social encounters, while research found text and social-media interactions were rated lower than face-to-face contact.
Demand for quiet is growing alongside loneliness concerns, with “hushpitality,” solo travel and noise-cancelling products becoming more prominent.
- Who
- English speakers, dictionary users, young adults and travellers are discussed, alongside research from the Institute for Public Policy Research and the Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication.
- What
- The article examines disappearing words, changing communication habits, rising interest in silence and concerns about loneliness.
- When
- The article cites a 2003 dictionary removal, a 2017 reinstatement, a June 2026 Oxford English Dictionary update and research comparing 2014 with current figures.
- Where
- The discussion focuses on English-speaking language use, with social-interaction research involving young adults in Spain and friendship data from England.
- Why
- Words and social habits change as society changes; digital convenience has reduced everyday encounters, while people increasingly seek both quiet and meaningful connection.
- Disappearing words
- Examples include snollygoster, mumpsimus, biffin, flype and frutescent.
- Snollygoster’s return
- Merriam-Webster removed it from its Collegiate Dictionary in 2003 and restored it in 2017 after renewed use.
- New Oxford entries
- The Oxford English Dictionary added more than 900 words, phrases and senses in June 2026.
- Social-interaction study
- The research analyzed 10,203 reports from 385 young adults in Spain.
- Interaction quality
- Text-based and social-media interactions were rated lower than face-to-face interactions; phone calls were rated positively.
- Friendship trend
- The Institute for Public Policy Research found that one in 20 young people in England reported having no close friends, compared with one in 100 in 2014.
- Quiet-travel trend
- Hilton reported that 56% of travellers cited rest and recharge as their top leisure-travel motivation, while 26% planned to travel alone.
- Noise-cancelling market
- Allied Market Research estimated the global market could reach $45.4 billion by 2031.