English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology

Slang Dictionary — Modern Slang, Decoded

What does that word actually mean? Our slang dictionary explains modern slang clearly — Gen Z, internet, British and street slang — with real definitions, examples and where each term came from.

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Gen Z Slangrizz, delulu, slay Internet Slangbrainrot, based, mid British Slangpeng, bare, peak AAVEbussin, finna, cap

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Latest slang terms

Maigad (also anglicized as 'megad') refers to a security guard, doorman, or gatekeeper at a home, office, or estate in Nigeria. It's one of the most common Hausa-origin words in everyday Nigerian English.

An affectionate clip of 'mamá' used for one's mother; can also address a girl warmly.

A genre in which ordinary girls gain magical powers and transform to fight evil, often with elaborate costumes and companion mascots. Sailor Moon and Madoka Magica define the genre.

The tile game that anchors a whole subgenre of tense strategy anime; fans use it as a byword for high-stakes brain battles.

Work or the effort put into a task; increasingly used in general Kiwi speech, as in 'do the mahi'.

The Hawaiian word for thank you, widely used in surf culture as a gesture of gratitude.

magnificent seven

Apple, Microsoft, Alphabet, Amazon, Nvidia, Meta and Tesla. The group that drove most of the S&P 500's returns from 2023 onward thanks to the AI trade. If you stripped them out, the rest of the index looked flat for long stretches.

Elder Scrolls' word for mana. Spend it to sling spells, regen it to keep slinging. Build mag and your whole kit runs off it instead of stamina.

A genre (mahou shoujo) in which young girls gain magical powers and transform to battle evil, from Sailor Moon to Madoka Magica.

A jokey term for the physio's wet sponge that seemingly heals any knock the moment it's applied.

A speedy standing kick (the '4' button) that, when it lands as a counter-hit, freezes the opponent long enough for a guaranteed combo. Great for interrupting pressure.

Describing a person or animal that is meagre and bony. Also spelt maga, meager.

Very thin or skinny. 'Maga dog' = a scrawny mongrel.

The seven trillion-dollar US tech names traders treat as one trade: Apple, Microsoft, Alphabet, Amazon, Nvidia, Meta and Tesla. When the Mag7 sneezes, the S&P catches it, because they're carrying half the index on their backs.

A Newcastle United supporter, from the club nickname 'the Magpies'.

From 'má fọ́' (don't break/don't be broken); used to tell someone not to fear, panic, or be discouraged by a person or situation. Popularised nationwide by artist Naira Marley.

The standard RAF inflatable life-jacket worn by aircrew over the North Sea and Channel. Once inflated by CO2 cartridge, it pushed the chest out into a shape that no airman who'd seen a Mae West film could fail to recognise.

A vert trick invented by Tony Hawk in which the rider does a frontside air, grabs the board, and kicks the front foot off toward the nose before returning it to land.

A term of affectionate awe for someone who actually went and did the unhinged thing. Wore shorts to a wedding. Replied-all to the entire company. Bought a house at 22 with a credit card. r/madlads is the museum, and the comments are always some variation of 'absolute madlad.' British-flavoured in origin, fully internationalised now.

Thin metal straps — also called battleships or F-straps — slid into a drywall cutout to clamp an old-work switch or outlet box from behind. You push them in past the rock, then bend the wings forward against the box ears. Standard fix when there's no stud to screw into.

Wildly enthusiastic, buzzing, fully committed. Going out 'madferit' means you're not coming home till the sun's up. It carries the full Hacienda-era spirit of yes-to-everything hedonism.

To be 'made up' is to be thrilled about something. Often used to share joy at someone else's good news.

A made man is a formally initiated member of a Cosa Nostra family who has taken the oath of omertà. Being 'made' confers status and protection within the organization.

made in the shade

Used as an enthusiastic confirmation that everything is handled and turning out great.