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nonbinary gender Nonbinary gender, gender identity adopted by individuals who feel that they do not fit into the traditional male/female gender binary. In the 21st century, the gender binary is increasingly considered to be a social construct that reinforces gender roles and stereotypes, a tendency that harms even...
colonoscopy Colonoscopy, a medical examination of the interior of the colon (large intestine), rectum, and anus, by the insertion of a narrow, flexible, lighted tube called a colonoscope. A tiny video camera on the end of the tube transmits images of the colon to an external monitor. A colonoscopy, which is a...
Lorem ipsum Lorem ipsum, placeholder or dummy text used in typesetting and graphic design for previewing layouts. It features scrambled Latin text, which emphasizes the design over content of the layout. It is the standard placeholder text of the printing and publishing industries. Its name derives from the...
Instagram Instagram, online social network service for photograph and video sharing. The app was launched in 2010 by cofounders Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger, and it is now owned by Meta Platforms, Inc., the parent company of Facebook. One of the biggest social media platforms in the world, Instagram...
rumspringa Rumspringa, (Pennsylvania Dutch: “running around”) a rite of passage and period of growth in adolescence for some Amish youths, during which time they face fewer restrictions on their behaviour and are not subject to the Ordnung (German: “order”), the specific system of unwritten community norms...
keratosis pilaris Keratosis pilaris, benign noncontagious skin condition characterized by the presence of discrete, tiny follicular papules (solid, usually conical elevations) and dry skin. Keratosis pilaris is limited to hair follicles and is most commonly seen on the outer surfaces of arms and thighs. The...
Malthusianism Malthusianism, economic theory advanced by the English economist and demographer Thomas Malthus (1766–1834), according to which population growth will always tend to outpace the supply of food. First presented by Malthus in his anonymous pamphlet An Essay on the Principle of Population as it...
morality Morality, the moral beliefs and practices of a culture, community, or religion or a code or system of moral rules, principles, or values. The conceptual foundations and rational consistency of such standards are the subject matter of the philosophical discipline of ethics, also known as moral...
odometer Odometer, device that registers the distance traveled by a vehicle. Modern digital odometers use a computer chip to track mileage. They make use of a magnetic or optical sensor that tracks pulses of a wheel that connects to a vehicle’s tires. This data is stored in the engine control module (ECM)....
Romance of the Three Kingdoms Romance of the Three Kingdoms, novel traditionally attributed to the 14th-century Chinese writer Luo Guanzhong. Spanning more than a century of Chinese history that includes the era of the Three Kingdoms, this epic saga of the last days of the Han dynasty is a compilation of history and legend...
Virgil Abloh Virgil Abloh, American designer and entrepreneur who was perhaps best known as the founder of the fashion label Off-White and the creative director of Louis Vuitton menswear. He often took existing ideas from a range of sources, including music, history, and architecture, and made them his own....
Holy Roman emperor Holy Roman emperor, ruler and head of state of the Holy Roman Empire. In 800 Charlemagne became the first such leader when Pope Leo III proclaimed him “emperor of the Romans.” The last Holy Roman emperor was Francis II, who dissolved the Holy Roman Empire in 1806 during the Napoleonic Wars. The...
deity Deity, a god, goddess, or other supernatural being considered divine. While not all religions involve deities, deities are central to most of the world’s largest religions today. The exact qualities of a deity will vary from one belief system to another, but they generally have powers and knowledge...
homunculus Homunculus, diminutive fully formed human body, historically believed to inhabit a germ cell (an egg or a sperm) and to have the capacity to increase in size, giving rise to an adult human. The word homunculus is Latin for “little man” or “little person.” The homunculus has had a colourful history...
Dina Boluarte Dina Boluarte, Peruvian politician who became the first woman president of Peru in December 2022, when Pres. Pedro Castillo was removed from office by Congress. Boluarte had been serving as Castillo’s first vice president. The youngest of 14 children in a rural family, which she characterized as...
Pedro Castillo Pedro Castillo, Peruvian politician, union leader, and schoolteacher who served as president of Peru from 2021 to 2022, when he was removed from office by the Congress of the Republic. The third of nine children, Castillo grew up in Puña, a remote village in the department of Cajamarca, in northern...
emotional intelligence Emotional intelligence, set of psychological faculties that enable individuals to perceive, understand, express, and control their emotions and to discern and respond appropriately to the emotions of others. Emotional intelligence facilitates thoughts and actions that take emotions into...
avoidant personality disorder Avoidant personality disorder (AVPD), mental disorder characterized by the intentional avoidance of social situations or interactions because of fear of rejection, criticism, or humiliation. Avoidant personality disorder (AVPD) is a type of personality disorder—that is, a pervasive, enduring,...
kintsugi Kintsugi, (Japanese: “golden joinery”) traditional Japanese technique of repairing ceramics with lacquer and a metal powder that is usually made from gold or silver. The centuries-old practice is often used to mend treasured objects by beautifying the cracks, which serve as a visual record of the...
planetary defense Planetary defense, the detection of asteroids and comets whose impact with Earth could significantly affect the planet and the prevention or mitigation of any such impacts. Meteorite falls have been scientifically accepted since the early 19th century, but recognition of the awesome power of...
diabetic ketoacidosis Diabetic ketoacidosis, complication of diabetes mellitus, characterized by an abnormal acceleration in the breakdown of fat to supply the body with energy that results in excess levels of acidic substances called ketones in the blood. Diabetic ketoacidosis typically develops gradually, but if left...
hematoma Hematoma, pooling of blood in tissues or spaces outside the blood vessels that results when a vessel is cut or torn, such as through injury or other forms of trauma. Blood and other fluids leak from the damaged vessel and collect in a mass. Affected tissues often swell and are painful. A hematoma...
Chinese hibiscus Chinese hibiscus, (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis), perennial species of hibiscus of the mallow family (Malvaceae), cultivated for its large brightly coloured flowers. Chinese hibiscus is the most common species of hibiscus and is grown as an ornamental hedge in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide....
Palestinian Islamic Jihad Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), militant group founded with the goal of liberating historic Palestine through armed struggle and by appealing to the region’s Islamic heritage. It was first formed in the Gaza Strip but also operates in the West Bank. The Palestinian Islamic Jihad, founded in 1981,...
Lizzo Lizzo, American singer, rapper, and flutist whose messages of positivity and empowerment resonated with audiences and brought her global success in the early 21st century. Her music—a blend of R&B, rap, and pop—typically features catchy, uplifting lyrics about self-love, especially as it relates to...
yuppie Yuppie, term used most frequently in the 1980s and ’90s to describe college-educated young professionals. Yuppie is short for “young urban professional” or “young upwardly mobile professional.” These individuals were typically of the American baby boomer generation (those born between 1946 and...
1Q84 1Q84, novel by Haruki Murakami, published in three volumes in 2009–10. Set in Tokyo in an alternate version of the year 1984, Murakami’s reality-bending novel explores star-crossed lovers Aomame and Tengo’s involvement with a mysterious cult. References to George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-four...
Mexican Mafia Mexican Mafia, prison gang and street gang network in the United States, centred in southern California but active in 13 states. The Mexican Mafia, which is one of the largest and deadliest prison gangs, is known for its secrecy and code of silence, for uncompromising violence, for its antipathy...
lucid dreaming Lucid dreaming, phenomenon of sleep in which one is aware that one is dreaming. During lucid dreaming, individuals not only are aware that they are dreaming but also may be able to direct the content of the dream, including their own actions. Lucid dreaming is thought to take place during the REM...
Western Front Western Front, major theatre of World War I. The name refers to the western side of territory under the control of Germany, which was also fighting on its eastern flank for most of the conflict. The struggle between the Allied and Central armies at the Western Front largely determined the course of...
effects pedal Effects pedal, electronic device, operated by foot, that enhances, distorts, or otherwise alters electrical signals that are transmitted through it and that originate with a musical instrument. Effects pedals are used to change the sound of the instrument, and there are numerous types. Most are...
veganism Veganism, the theory or practice of abstaining from the consumption and use of animal products. While some vegans avoid only animal-derived food, many others also exclude any items that use animals as ingredients or for testing. These prohibited products can range from clothing (e.g., leather) to...
deep vein thrombosis Deep vein thrombosis (DVT), formation of a blood clot in a vein that lies deep beneath the surface of the skin. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) usually occurs in the lower leg, thigh, or pelvis, but it also may develop in the arm, brain, intestines, liver, or kidney. DVT is a serious condition that can...
Fall of Man Fall of Man, in Christian doctrine, the descent of humanity from a state of innocence lived in the presence of God to a sinful world of misery and death. After disobeying God and eating the forbidden fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, Adam and Eve were expelled from the Garden of...
Chris Hipkins Chris Hipkins, New Zealand politician who was chosen to replace Jacinda Ardern as Labour Party leader and prime minister when she resigned in January 2023. Hipkins was reared in the Hutt Valley, in the Wellington region, by parents he has described as coming from “relatively humble beginnings” who...
false flag False flag, harmful, often militant, event or action that is designed to appear as though perpetrated by someone other than the person or group responsible for it. False flag operations are often calculated to generate sympathy for the attacked group. The term is sometimes used to describe a...
operant conditioning Operant conditioning, in psychology and the study of human and animal behaviour, a mechanism of learning through which humans and animals come to perform or to avoid performing certain behaviours in response to the presence or absence of certain environmental stimuli. The behaviours are...
root vegetable Root vegetable, in cuisine and nutrition, a part of a plant grown underground and eaten as food. Root vegetables are a diverse group of foods, including culinary staples such as potatoes, onions, and carrots. Because “root vegetable” is a culinary category rather than a botanical one, it is...
Sagrada Família Sagrada Família, Roman Catholic minor basilica in Barcelona, Spain, designed by Antoni Gaudí. Begun in 1882 and still unfinished in the first quarter of the 21st century, the Sagrada Família, notable for its tactile organic form, is one of Barcelona’s most famous landmarks. It is an unexpected...
millennial Millennial, term used to describe a person born between 1981 and 1996, though different sources can vary by a year or two. It was first used in the book Generations (1991) by Neil Howe and William Strauss, who felt it was an appropriate name for the generation that would become adults at the turn...
heuristic Heuristic, in cognitive psychology, a process of intuitive judgment, operating under conditions of uncertainty, that rapidly produces a generally adequate, though not ideal or optimal, decision, solution, prediction, or inference. Heuristics function as mental shortcuts that produce serviceable...
Celeste Ng Celeste Ng, American writer who authored several best-selling novels, including Everything I Never Told You (2014) and Little Fires Everywhere (2017). Her work often includes elements of mystery, family drama, and social commentary. Ng was born to parents who emigrated from Hong Kong in the 1960s....
Angela Bassett Angela Bassett, American actress best known for portraying Black women who made history, including singer Tina Turner and civil rights activists Rosa Parks and Betty Shabazz, the wife of African American leader Malcolm X. Bassett was born in New York, New York, and raised by an aunt in...
number sign Number sign, versatile symbol (#) most commonly used to preface numbers (e.g., apartment #1) but which encompasses a variety of other uses, especially to tag (or hashtag) posts and messages on social media platforms. The origin of the number sign is usually attributed to the Latin term libra pondo,...
Olivia Wilde Olivia Wilde, American actress, director, and screenwriter who first gained fame in front of the camera, known for her performances on both television and film. She later found success as a director of movies that typically focus on women and explore feminist themes. Olivia Jane Cockburn was born...
Molotov cocktail Molotov cocktail, a crude bomb, typically consisting of a bottle filled with a flammable liquid and a wick that is ignited before throwing. It is named for Vyacheslav Molotov, the foreign minister of the Soviet Union during and after World War II, though Molotov was not its inventor. It is also...
cult of personality Cult of personality, a deliberately created system of art, symbolism, and ritual centred on the institutionalized quasi-religious glorification of a specific individual. Since the 20th century, “cult of personality” has been most often used to refer to charismatic leader cults, a type of...
memento mori Memento mori, in art and spirituality, a symbolic trope or meditative practice that serves as a reminder of mortality and the transitory nature of earthly pleasures. Memento mori is a Latin phrase meaning “remember you must die.” The notion of “remembering death” appears throughout European...
Operation Fortitude Operation Fortitude, during World War II, an Allied deception operation that was intended to make Nazi Germany’s high command believe that the main Allied invasion of Europe in 1944 would not be at Normandy. Organized by Allied military officials beginning in 1943, Operation Fortitude—which was one...
pansexuality Pansexuality, sexual, emotional, and/or romantic attraction toward others regardless of their sex or gender identity. Like other multisexual orientations, such as omnisexuality and polysexuality, pansexuality is considered by some to be analogous to or a subset of bisexuality; others consider...
Vitruvian Man Vitruvian Man, drawing in metalpoint, pen and ink, and watercolour on paper (c. 1490) by the Renaissance artist, architect, and engineer Leonardo da Vinci. It depicts a nude male figure with the arms and legs in two superimposed positions so that the hands and feet touch the perimeters of both a...
imposter syndrome Imposter syndrome, a persistent unjustified feeling that one’s success is fraudulent. Imposter syndrome is characterized by doubt in one’s abilities—despite a record of achievement or respect from one’s peers—and a fear of having one’s unworthiness exposed. Imposter syndrome was first described in...
closed-circuit television Closed-circuit television (CCTV), system that uses video cameras to send television signals to a specific limited viewership. Unlike broadcast television, closed-circuit television (CCTV) does not openly transmit its signal to the public but rather between set points that are decided by the...
pho Pho, Vietnamese dish made with broth, noodles, and meat. The most common protein found in pho is beef, usually thinly sliced. Beef tendon or tripe is sometimes used. Pho can be made with chicken, fish, pork, or tofu as well. The broth is usually bolstered by a series of spices, such as star anise,...
Charles Perkins Charles Perkins, Australian civil servant and activist who was the first Indigenous Australian to head a government department and the most influential figure in the Aboriginal fight for civil rights; he was often compared to American civil rights leader the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. Perkins...
William Kuntsler William Kuntsler, American lawyer who was a flamboyant left-wing attorney known for defending a number of controversial clients in high-profile cases. He gained national renown during the trial of the "Chicago Seven" on charges of having conspired to incite riots in Chicago during the 1968...
Keith Floyd Keith Floyd, British chef, restaurateur, and television personality who starred in a score of TV programs, beginning with Floyd on Fish (1985), and created a more spontaneous, improvisational style of British cooking show than had previously existed. Floyd combined rakish charm, irreverent wit, and...
natural disaster Natural disaster, any calamitous occurrence generated by the effects of natural, rather than human-driven, phenomena that produces great loss of human life or destruction of the natural environment, private property, or public infrastructure. A natural disaster may be caused by weather and climate...
solitary confinement Solitary confinement, form of incarceration in which a prisoner is isolated from other inmates. Critics of this controversial practice characterize it as inhumane. Solitary confinement, also called punitive segregation, is often used strictly as a punishment. However, that was not always the case....
the Jayhawks The Jayhawks, American roots rock group that was an influential pioneer of the alternative country and Americana movements but became increasingly eclectic in its range of styles. Founded in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 1985, the Jayhawks have long been revered by the musical literati, but during a...
sarin Sarin, synthetic organophosphate compound that is highly toxic to the nervous system. Exposure to sarin—which is colourless, odourless, and tasteless—can cause death within minutes. Sarin was developed in Germany in 1938 by the chemical and pharmaceutical company IG Farben, initially for use as a...
Colleen Hoover Colleen Hoover, American author who became a publishing phenomenon in the early 21st century and is known for hugely popular books that typically feature romance and dramatic plot twists. Forgoing more traditional marketing plans, Hoover self-published many of her books, which became sensations on...
trazodone Trazodone, drug used to treat depression and to induce sedation in persons with certain anxiety disorders and sleep disorders. Trazodone works by causing an increase in levels of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that helps maintain mental balance. Trazodone is taken orally, typically starting at a low...
Steve Scalise Steve Scalise, American Republican politician and member of the U.S. House of Representatives (2008– ) who served as majority whip (2014–18), minority whip (2019–22), and majority leader (2023– ). A native of Jefferson parish, in the greater New Orleans region, Scalise is one of three children of a...
Martha Gellhorn Martha Gellhorn, American journalist and novelist who, as one of the first female war correspondents, candidly described ordinary people in times of unrest. Though often remembered for her brief marriage to American author Ernest Hemingway, Gellhorn refused to be a “footnote” to his life; during a...
Conor Cruise O’Brien Conor Cruise O’Brien, Irish diplomat, politician, educator, and journalist who was one of Ireland’s most provocative political and intellectual figures. Although he was a fierce advocate of his homeland, O’Brien was a strong critic of Irish Republican Army violence and of what he considered the...
Liz Claiborne Liz Claiborne, American fashion designer who revolutionized the women’s apparel industry in the U.S. as the head designer and cofounder (with her husband, Arthur Ortenberg, and partners, Leonard Boxer and Jerome Chazen) in 1976 of the company that bears her name. At a time when career women were...
Paul Mellon Paul Mellon, American philanthropist who was heir to an enormous fortune amassed by his father, financier and industrialist Andrew W. Mellon, but chose not to centre his career in the business world. Instead, he sought to contribute to the cultural life of the country and eventually gave about a...
Bobby Robson Bobby Robson, British football (soccer) player and manager who was one of England’s most respected players and managers. At the height of his professional career, Robson played 20 matches with the national team, including appearances in the 1958 and 1962 World Cup finals; later, serving as the...
Dinah Shore Dinah Shore, American singer and television personality who projected a sunny disposition and exuded an effervescent Southern charm that, combined with her sultry contralto renditions of such favourites as "Blues in the Night," "I’ll Walk Alone," and "Buttons and Bows," endeared her to record...
Eunice Kennedy Shriver Eunice Kennedy Shriver, American social activist who worked tirelessly to improve the lives of the intellectually disabled and, in an effort to provide a forum for them to compete athletically, founded (1968) the Special Olympics. Shriver, the sister of Pres. John F. Kennedy and Senators Robert F....
Roy Rogers Roy Rogers, American cowboy actor-singer who starred in some 90 motion pictures and over 100 episodes of a weekly television show from the late 1930s to the mid-1950s and reigned as king of the cowboys. The quintessential "good guy in a white hat," he subdued villains by shooting the guns from...
Cesar Romero Cesar Romero, American actor whose diverse and prolific career encompassed roles as ingratiating playboys, engaging bandits, and likable scoundrels. He was best remembered, however, for his portrayal of the Joker, an archvillain and master of puns on television’s Batman, and as the silver screen’s...
Jerry Quarry Jerry Quarry, American boxer who became a championship heavyweight contender but never a champion. He posted a professional record of 53–9–4 with 33 knockouts and was known as a heavy hitter with a devastating left hook, but some of his biggest fights were lost owing to cuts on his eyebrows. Quarry...
Rod Steiger Rod Steiger, American actor who used the techniques of method acting—enhanced by his powerful delivery and intensity—to inhabit a wide variety of complex characters during a half-century-long career as a performer. He was nominated for an Academy Award three times and won it once, for best actor,...
Maureen O’Sullivan Maureen O’Sullivan, Irish-born American actress who had a distinguished performing career that extended from the 1930s until the mid-1990s, but was perhaps best remembered for her film portrayal of the scantily clad Jane opposite Johnny Weissmuller in his title role as Tarzan in a half dozen jungle...
Ruby Keeler Ruby Keeler, Canadian-born American actor and dancer who starred as a fresh-faced ingenue who would triumphantly emerge from the chorus line to replace an ailing or temperamental star in a string of lavish, formulaic Depression-era film musicals remembered for the colossal kaleidoscopic dance...
Shelley Winters Shelley Winters, American actor who had a career that spanned more than half a century, well over 100 films, and a variety of colourful characters. She won two best supporting actress Academy Awards, for The Diary of Anne Frank (1959) and A Patch of Blue (1965), and received nominations as best...
Tony Randall Tony Randall, American actor who was most closely identified with the character Felix Unger, the fastidious fussbudget he portrayed opposite Jack Klugman’s sloppy Oscar Madison on the TV series The Odd Couple (1970–75); he won an Emmy Award for the last season of the show. Randall studied speech...
Jeopardy! Jeopardy!, daily syndicated American television quiz show in which three contestants try to win money as they are quizzed on all types of trivia—history, science, math, geography, language, popular culture, and more. The long-running program, which has won dozens of Daytime Emmy Awards, is a...