While we tend to cite the Oxford English Dictionary as the authority for the English language and what words are “officially” part of it, there are many ways for words to become commonly used and accepted by English speakers in the United States, Britain, or around the world. It’s hard to pin a precise definition on what makes a word “official English” and as a result, different organizations tend to add words at different rates. In the United States, the Merriam-Webster company, which has been publishing and updating English dictionaries since the mid-19th century, has recently released a list of their “official English” words. Here are some of the words – many of them related to new technology, as you might expect – that you’ve probably been using for a while which have now achieved their official status:

tweet noun and verb
Definition: To post a message using the online service Twitter.

parkour noun
Definition: A competition, often held in urban areas, where athletes climb, jump, or otherwise get past any obstacle in their way (including buildings and other structures).
Note: This word was added to the OED in 2010.

m-commerce noun
Definition: Financial transactions done using a mobile device.

Americana noun
Definition: Things that are iconically “American” in nature, that are understood by the general public to represent a particular facet of the culture of the United States, past or present.

crowdsourcing verb
Definition: Using the input of many people, usually via online communication, to gather information and opinions that influence the development of products, answer problems or questions, or direct actions in some way.

social media noun
Definition: Any of the many ways that people can communicate using the internet through specific sites designed to make that communication easier, either between groups of people or one-on-one.