Skibidi in the Cambridge Dictionary: When does slang become legit?

This article examines how digital slang gains legitimacy through its inclusion in authoritative dictionaries, focusing on Cambridge’s 2025 additions of skibidi, delulu, and tradwife. Drawing on a narrative review of sociolinguistic theory, lexicographic practice, and recent computational corpus studies (2022–2025), the paper reframes slang legitimation as a filtering process rather than a linear trajectory. Classical frameworks (Saussure, Labov, Milroy, Hockett) are revisited in light of accelerated digital diffusion, where algorithmic amplification and weak-tie networks enable slang to spread globally within weeks. Findings highlight three core criteria for codification: sustained frequency, semantic stability, and cross-demographic dispersion. However, dictionary decisions also carry cultural and ethical weight, as inclusion can be perceived as endorsement, especially for ideologically charged terms. A comparative analysis across English, French, German, and Japanese dictionaries reveals divergent philosophies of linguistic authority, while a proposed practical framework provides lexicographers with tools for balancing responsiveness with caution. Ultimately, the study argues that digital slang survives codification only through endurance and broad intelligibility, underscoring the role of dictionaries as both descriptive record-keepers and cultural arbiters in an era of accelerated linguistic change.