A sniglet is defined as a "word that should be in the dictionary, but isn't". While Rich Hall invented the word "sniglet" itself, sniglets are actually a long-running popular joke in which people make up their own humorous words to define things or concepts that have no "official" definitions.

Sniglets were popularized during the 1980s, on the HBO comedy series Not Necessarily the News. Comedian and cast member Rich Hall had a regular segment on sniglets during each episode of the monthly series.

Examples

• Bevameter – The distance you can lift your beverage from the table before the coaster that is stuck to it falls off.
• Ingosecond – Seeing yourself about to do something stupid but following through anyway. For example, closing your car door and seeing that your finger is going to get smashed, but closing the door anyway.
• Runal – A nasal discharge, that hangs and is sucked back in.

Books

Rich Hall released several volumes of collected sniglets, illustrated by Arnie Ten:

• Sniglets (Snig'Lit: Any Word That Doesn't Appear in the Dictionary, but Should) – 1984
• More Sniglets: Any Word That Doesn't Appear in the Dictionary, but Should – 1985
• Sniglets for Kids (sticker book, 1985)
• Unexplained Sniglets of the Universe – 1986
• Angry Young Sniglets – 1987
• When Sniglets Ruled the Earth – 1989

A 1994 sniglet a day calendar was also released.

See also

• The Meaning of Liff
• Neologism
• Portmanteau
• Word coinage

External link

• Additional Sniglet Examples
• Arnie Ten official website