Participate in the Invent a Word Contest by Gotham Writers. It is free, online with submissions open till February 28, 2025!

About the Contest

Have you ever found yourself grasping for the perfect word, only to realize it doesn’t exist? Well, here’s your chance to change that! Gotham Writers invites you to create a word that will greatly enrich the English language.

Invent a Word Contest by Gotham Writers
Invent a Word Contest by Gotham Writers

What’s a Neologism?

Inventing words is no new feat, Thomas Jefferson coined the term neologism to describe “invented words,” while comedian Rich Hall introduced the informal sniglet. These words can emerge from cultural trends, politics, or even just a love of quirky sounds. For example:

  • Doomscrolling reflects our times of endless bad news.
  • Muckraker rose from political discourse.
  • Cyberspace, dreamed up by sci-fi author William Gibson, entered our everyday vocabulary.

And don’t forget Shakespeare, who gave us treasures like bedazzled, swagger, and eyeball. Now, it’s your turn to follow in the Bard’s footsteps.

What Kind of Word Can You Invent?

Your word can be:

  • Inspired by modern life (think zonked).
  • Borrowed from fantastical worlds (chortle).
  • Something entirely new and needed (neologism itself).
  • What we don’t encourage is simply morphing existing words—like turning a noun into a verb (googling) or an adjective (flowery). We’re looking for originality, creativity, and utility.

How to Enter?

  • Invent your word.
  • Write a one-sentence definition.
  • Use the word in a sentence.

Past Entries

For inspiration, here are some past winning entries:

  • Doddlenodding: The polite nod of agreement when you haven’t understood an answer. After asking about sourdough starters for the third time, Dan stood there doddlenodding.
  • Homefooling: Pretending to do remote schoolwork while actually gaming or scrolling TikTok. Jack, I see you failed English, have you been homefooling again?

Contest Details

  • Deadline: February 28, 2025, at 11:59 PM ET.
  • Submission: Online only, limit one entry per person.
  • Word Limit: 70 words (definition and sentence included).
  • Judging Criteria: Originality, quality, spelling, and grammar.
  • Prize: A free Gotham class of your choice (excluding premium classes).
  • Winner Announcement: By mid-March, 2025, on GothamWriters.com.

Why Enter?

Creating a word isn’t just fun, it’s a chance to leave your mark on the English language. So, get your creativity flowing, and let your imagination invent the next zonked or swagger!

How to Register?

Interested participants can register through this link.

Deadline

The deadline for registration is February 28, 2025.

Click here to view the official notification of the Invent a Word Contest by Gotham Writers.

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