January 2006

New Word Watch

Merriam-Webster editors are giving the following words serious consideration for entry in a Merriam-Webster dictionary:

• empty suit noun : an ineffectual executive
• metabolic syndrome noun : a syndrome marked by the presence of usually three or more of a group of factors (as high blood pressure, abdominal obesity, high triglyceride levels, low HDL levels, and insulin resistance) that are linked to increased risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes — called also insulin resistance syndrome
• ringtone noun : the sound made by a cell phone to signal an incoming call

Do you have a suggestion for a word we should be watching for? E-mail us at comments@word.com, and we’ll tell you what we have on that word so far.