Australian National Dictionary Centre, ANU

27/08/2026

Our 2026 annual appeal is asking for your regional Australian English terms. And no, it's not all about potato scallops vs potato cakes. https://history.cass.anu.edu.au/centres/andc/news/2026-annual-appeal-regional-australian-english

30/01/2026

A belated and no fanfare 2025 word of the year for the Centre. We chose 'social media ban'. And for all of you who say it's not a word: may your chooks turn into emus and kick your dunny down😀 Read all about it in the ANU Reporter. https://tinyurl.com/2w3afx49

26/01/2026

Congratulations to Dr Bruce Moore on becoming an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO). Bruce was the director of the Australian National Dictionary Centre from 1994 to 2011. His award comes in recognition of his distinguished service to linguistics, to the scholarship of Australian English, to lexicography, to the history of language, and to tertiary education. He was the Chief Editor of the 2nd edition of the Australian National Dictionary published in 2016.

18/09/2025

We were very pleased to get the news today that the Australian National Dictionary Centre will be saved, thanks to an anonymous donation and the halt on involuntary redundancies under the Renew ANU plan. We thank everyone for their generous support through these difficult times.

12/08/2025

Congratulations to the Australian National Dictionary Centre's director Amanda Laugesen. Her book 'Australia in 100 Words' has just been shortlisted for the 2025 Prime Minister's Literary Awards (Australian History).

08/08/2025

The dictionary is a living, breathing and evolving record of how language is wrapped up in who we are as Australians. It is vital we protect it.

16/07/2025

Follow the latest news headlines from Australia's most trusted source. Read in-depth expert analysis and watch live coverage on ABC News.

18/05/2025

Our fabulous Visiting Fellow Bernadette Hince discusses some of the terms in her new polar dictionary.

The polar regions are cold, remote and off-putting, but there are thousands of polar words in English – and not just words for snow and ice.

25/03/2025

https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/latenightlive/australia-in-100-words-lexicography-amanda-laugesen/105090420?utm_content=link&utm_medium=content_shared

Historian and Director of the Australian National Dictionary Centre Amanda Laugesen has chronicled the linguistic history of Australia, in 100 words. Guest: Amanda Laugesen, lexicographer, ANU Producer: Helen Pitt