Vol. 10 · Portmanteaus ·Contemporary (2000–) ·2006
Ghosting
ghost (verb) disappearing
- Meaning
- Ending a relationship by suddenly cutting all communication.
- Source words
- ghost (verb) + disappearing
- Coined by
- online dating users
- Year
- 2006
Background
Technically a derived verb, not a strict portmanteau — but its coinage followed the same folk-pattern. Entered Collins Dictionary in 2015.
Contemporary (2000–)
Faster coinage, faster canonisation. Brexit and podcast both reached the OED within a decade of first use — historically rapid. Social media has made visibility, not invention, the rate-limiting step.
Two words, one coinage.
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