NIMBY Added to the Oxford English Dictionary

The definitive dictionary of the English language, the Oxford English Dictionary, will add the term NIMBY to its latest edition, citing the widespread use and worldwide political relevance of the term as reasons for its inclusion.

April 1, 2014, 5am PDT | James Brasuell | @CasualBrasuell

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The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) announced today that the newest edition of the dictionary would include the term NIMBY—short for “Not In My Back Yard,” a term that describes a popular form of political opposition to real estate development and infrastructure investment.

“The word NIMBY and its related forms are ubiquitous everywhere English is spoken,” said Phil Ology, a spokesperson for the OED, in announcing the dictionary’s decision to include the term. “It could be said that the sun never sets on the NIMBY Empire,” he added.

Ology would not respond to rumors that the OED added the word in response to threats of legal action by dictionary owners groups who believe that the OED's new digital edition should be subject to higher levels of environmental review. Critics of the decision claim that the future of the English language shouldn't be held hostage by a vocal few.

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NIMBY Added to the Oxford English Dictionary

Published on Tuesday, April 1, 2014 in Planetizen April 1st Edition