- A famous AFL term has been added to the Oxford English Dictionary
- It comes as several other new words have been included in the iconic text
The Oxford English Dictionary has announced that it is adding 11 very Australian terms to its pages including one new AFL phrase.
The new additions will join an ever-growing list of Aussie phrases that have been added to the iconic ledger over time.
Some of those already include ‘dim sim’, ‘fair dinkum’ and ‘no wuckas’.
And now the footy term ‘best and fairest’ is being added to the to the 2025 dictionary.
The phrase is used to praise the top performing player across a season, with that person being dubbed both exceptional on the pitch while also showing outstanding sportsmanship.
Players winning awards, such as the league’s coveted Brownlow Medal, are dubbed the ‘best and fairest’ across the season.
The Oxford English dictionary has added several new Aussie words, including one AFL phrase
The AFL term ‘best and fairest’, used to describe the player of the season, was added to the iconic dictionary (pictured, Patrick Cripps – the AFL’s best and fairest winner for 2024)
It follows other AFL phrases that have been added to the dictionary, including the word ‘speccy’ – used to describe a ‘spectacular mark’ (pictured right Mitch McGovern, being tackled by Esava Ratugolea, left, during a marking contest)
Carlton star Patrick Cripps was dubbed the AFL’s ‘best and fairest’ for 2024 after the midfielder enjoyed another standout season, claiming his second Brownlow Medal.
‘Best and fairest’ now joins the footy phrase, ‘speccy’, which had previously been added to the dictionary and is used to define when a player takes a spectacular mark.
Meanwhile, the phrase ‘don’t argue’ has also this added this week to the dictionary.
It describes how a player might deliver a hand-off to the face of a tackler outstretched arm.
Among the latest additions also came the word ‘carn’, meaning ‘come on!’ and ‘gunzel’ – an adjective used to describe someone who loves trams or trains.
The word Balanda was also added to the dictionary which dates back to the 1800s.
It is understood to originate from Australian Aboriginal English and refers to a white person or white people.
On its website, the Oxford English Dictionary details how they pick which Aussie words get added to the archive.
‘The OED works in partnership with external experts from or in Australia to ensure that our entries for Australian English words draw from local knowledge and expertise and reflect the everyday reality and distinctive identity of the Australian English-speaking community,’ the website says.
