skunked term

English

Etymology

Coined by American lawyer, lexicographer, and teacher Bryan A. Garner, and since adopted by some other style guides.

Noun
Examples

skunked term (plural skunked terms)

  1. A word that becomes difficult to use because it is transitioning from one meaning to another. Purists may insist on the old usage, while descriptivists are more open to newer usages.
    • 2000, Bryan A. Garner, “lady”, in The Oxford Dictionary of American Usage and Style, page 206:
      It isn't a skunked term, but it's gradually becoming something like one.
    • 2013, Ben Yagoda, How to Not Write Bad: The Most Common Writing Problems and the Best Ways to Avoid Them‎, Penguin, →ISBN:
      When the skunked term has a different meaning, it's given in parentheses.
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