Art, obsession, and identity
Pop culture doesn't just give us countless hours of entertainment—it also shapes our language. The way words enter dictionaries are often a reflection of the times, with certain words becoming popular for resonating with the general public. Cartoons, in particular, have managed to introduce original, relevant language, spanning from political cartoons to animated films, TV, and more.
Curious? Check out this gallery to discover words that were introduced or popularized by cartoons.
While the word may have origins as early as the 16th century, it did not catch on until 1933.
E.C. Segar, the creator of 'Popeye,' introduced foolish but large characters to his comic and named them "goons," the most famous of which was Alice the Goon. The word was soon popularized to describe an unintelligent bully.
A term used for an intelligent person, the word "brainiac" originated in the 'Superman' comic book series as the name of a new character.
In Action Comics #242, issued in 1958, Brainiac makes his first appearance as an extraterrestrial, superintelligent villain.
Herbert Block (commonly called Herblock) was an influential political editorial cartoonist for The Washington Post, and a fervent critic of politician Joseph McCarthy.
The term "McCarthyism" was first used on March 29, 1950, when Block published a comic titled 'You mean I'm supposed to stand on that?' The word has since been used to describe the Red Scare period in America, and general unjust political persecution or defamation.
"Embiggen" comes from the motto of 'The Simpsons' fictional town of Springfield: "A noble spirit embiggens the smallest man." It means to "make bigger or more expansive."
Just over two decades after Bart's teacher, Miss Krabappel, mentioned never hearing of the word until she moved to Springfield, it was officially added to the dictionary in 2018.
In response to Ms. Krabappel never having heard of the word "embiggen," Lisa's teacher, Miss Hoover, insists it is a "perfectly cromulent word."
Writer David X. Cohen is credited with creating the word when instructed to develop something that sounded real. As of September 2023, the word "cromulent" is officially in the dictionary.
Prior to 1904, a person who recently married could be "newly wed," but they would not be a "newlywed."
The noun only caught on after the release of George McManus' 'The Newlyweds and Their Baby,' the first cartoon strip depicting an American family. The word has served as a synonym for honeymooners ever since.
Felix the Cat's legacy is immortalized both for him being the first animated film star, but also for adding a word to the dictionary.
Introduced as a comic strip in 1919, the titular character eventually appeared in his own TV series, co-starring a child-genius character named Poindexter. Today, "poindexter" is used as slang to describe an intelligent but socially awkward person.
Eugene the Jeep was another 'Popeye' character who also achieved immortalization in the dictionary. The magical, yellow doglike creature was first introduced in E.C. Segar's comic in 1936. Four years later, a four-wheel-drive vehicle entered the market.
While the origins of the automobile's name are debated, one popular theory is that military service members nicknamed the vehicles "jeeps" after the character, as they both could go anywhere.
First used in 1943, the word "kryptonite" was introduced as the mineral that was Superman's sole weakness.
Known as his Achilles' heel, the word became a modernized version of the latter around the '60s. It's now widely used to describe a person's vulnerability.
Another 'Simpsons' word contribution is the word "meh." The expression entered the dictionary in 2009.
On the season six episode 'Sideshow Bob Roberts,' Lisa expresses confusion that voting records aren't classified, to which the clerk offers the indifferent response, "Meh."
Its first use dates back to the 16th century, however, it was thanks to a 1948 'Looney Tunes' cartoon that the word was introduced to a younger audience when Daffy Duck used it while speaking to Elmer Fudd, referring to him as "my little nimrod."
Bugs Bunny also used the word to taunt Yosemite Sam. "Nimrod" then transformed to mean a foolish person.
Dan Castellaneta first uttered Homer Simpson's most famous catchphrase in 1989. He took inspiration from comedian James Finlayson's grunt in the Laurel and Hardy films.
However, it was 'The Simpsons' that popularized the term, so much so that it entered the Oxford English Dictionary in 2001.
The word "shazam" originated in a 1940s comic book created by writer Bill Parker and artist C.C. Peck, which introduced the character Captain Marvel (not the Marvel hero).
Over time, the word has been used to describe a sudden, magical transformation.
The earliest known use of "cowabunga" is in 'The Howdy Doody Show' in 1954, however, it was only popularized in the '60s by surfers.
The word reached the broader lexicon in the '80s after 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' character Michelangelo took it on as his catchphrase.
Sources: (Stacker) (Mental Floss)
See also: What are the oldest words in the English language?
Words introduced or popularized by cartoons
We can thank pop culture for these words!
LIFESTYLE Entertainment
Pop culture doesn't just give us countless hours of entertainment—it also shapes our language. The way words enter dictionaries are often a reflection of the times, with certain words becoming popular for resonating with the general public. Cartoons, in particular, have managed to introduce original, relevant language, spanning from political cartoons to animated films, TV, and more.
Curious? Check out this gallery to discover words that were introduced or popularized by cartoons.