skunked term

English

Etymology

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

Noun

Examples
alot decimate literally nonplussed

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^[1], Penguin, →ISBN:

     When the skunked term has a different meaning, it's given in parentheses.