Merriam-Webster Throws 'Shade' Into The Dictionary

Merriam-Webster just dropped a bombshell, yall.

Shade is one of the the latest words to be added to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, according to an announcement (which included a gif of Dorian Corey from "Paris is Burning") made via the Merriam-Webster official Twitter on Tuesday:

We added shade to the dictionary. https://t.co/dbxSsggzLo pic.twitter.com/4bpkoJVvAF

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We added shade to the dictionary. https://t.co/dbxSsggzLo pic.twitter.com/4bpkoJVvAF
Merriam-Webster (@MerriamWebster) February 7, 2017

Shade or throwing shade is a term that originated in the queer black and Latino ballroom scene, as documented in 1989s Paris is Burning.

The term has been popularized in the mainstream thanks to shows like RuPauls Drag Race and the Real Housewives of Atlanta, where the likes of Nene Leakes and Kenya Moore have used shade and also thrown shade at fellow castmates.

According to a Merriam-Webster article posted about the history of the word, "shade" has roots in the American black experience going all the way back to slavery, when a direct insult could result in death.

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Merriam-Webster's official definition for the slang word "shade" is: To express contempt or disrespect for someone publicly especially by subtle or indirect insults or criticisms.

Shade is one of 1,000 new words added to the Merriam-Webster dictionary this month.