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Words that have changed meaning during your lifetime...

dennilfloss

dennilfloss

Past Lifer 1957-2014 In Memoriam
For example, the term gay being nowadays associated more with homosexuality than happiness...

Found out recently that the term monokini means something very different now compared to when I was young (the sixties). Confusing to say the least. Wikipedia has a NSFW entry on the term that explains the new meaning versus the old.

The term PC also seems to be overly restrictive nowadays compared to during the 80s.

Any other word comes to mind?
 
dennilfloss said:
That use as an intensifier began close to 100 years ago though.
Click to expand...

Actually, even earlier than that. But I'm betting "gay" as a euphemism for "homosexual" started earlier than your lifetime but only entered common popular use recently.
Wikipedia (entry on "gay") said:
The term was originally used to refer to feelings of being "carefree", "happy", or "bright and showy". The term's use as a reference to homosexuality may date as early as the late 19th century, but its use gradually increased in the 20th century.
Click to expand...

It's hard to say with words unless you want to go by the OED or other etymology source.

Also, I'm 637 years old. :colbert:
 
Gay was a code word, actually.
And on that note, i love you was a cigarette using the British term.
Or glowing ember?

Some terms, especially tech terms, should have been updated.
Seems funny calling a computer a computer when I think of a computer as a room full of wires and switches used to compute and calculating.
I mean, you wouldn't call a word processor a type writer.
Sounds funny, Microsoft Type Writer Office Suite.
 
Ironic went from meaning something that was the opposite of the expected result to any random coincidence, or anything said sarcastically, or really any situation that ever will exist. I blame this entirely on Canada, where apparently it rains on weddings so frequently that all dictionaries have become useless lumps of waterlogged paper and people are reduced to guessing at the meaning of words that they've blindly drawn from a hat to label their next pop song.
 
One of the most annoying ones imo - "clown" had been turned into a verb or an adjective with several different meanings, all equally grating.

If I hear someone using the word "clown" in the modern way I instantly disregard everything else that comes out of their piehole.
 
fags-bikers-south-park-demotivational-poster-1258922364.jpg


I always thought it was just a fancy way to say cigarettes. :shrug:
 
Atomic Playboy said:
Ironic went from meaning something that was the opposite of the expected result to any random coincidence, or anything said sarcastically, or really any situation that ever will exist. I blame this entirely on Canada, where apparently it rains on weddings so frequently that all dictionaries have become useless lumps of waterlogged paper and people are reduced to guessing at the meaning of words that they've blindly drawn from a hat to label their next pop song.
Click to expand...

wasjust about to post this. "lol that's so ironic" - stfu
 
"Search" and "seizure". I don't know what they mean now, but apparently it doesn't mean searching for, or taking anything.
 
"phobic" used to mean, fear of something, but nowadays, "homophobia" apparently doesn't mean you're actually afraid of homosexuals. (OMG! I might catch teh gay!)
Instead, the word has been co-opted to mean you're homo-prejudiced or bigoted.


Lots and lots of words have had their meanings changed over the years. Some folks consider it a natural progression of the language...me, I think it's silly. Need a word for something? Instead of "stealing" a word and adopting it for your use, invent a new word.
 
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