Kory Stamper


Kory Stamper is a lexicographer and former associate editor for the Merriam-Webster family of dictionaries. She is the author of Word by Word: The Secret Life of Dictionaries.

Early life

Stamper grew up in Colorado. She attended Smith College, where she undertook an interdisciplinary major that involved studying Latin, Greek, Norse, Old English, and Middle English after enrolling in a course on Icelandic family sagas of the 13th and 14th centuries. She says "I loved the style, the rhythm. They're very bleak, but they have this black humor."

Career

Stamper worked in a college development office before applying for an editorial assistant position with Merriam-Webster in 1998.
In addition to her editorial duties, she presents many of Merriam-Webster's "Ask the Editor" videos, a series on the publisher's website and YouTube that discusses the English language, especially unusual or controversial words and usages. She undertakes speaking engagements on behalf of Merriam-Webster and provides expert advice and response to general enquiries on language and lexicography from the public. Stamper drew attention as the Associate Editor responsible for explaining the addition of the term "F-Bomb" into the dictionary.
Stamper also provides lexicographical and language-related commentary for various media outlets including the Chicago Tribune and has written on other, non-language-related topics.

''Word by Word''

Stamper's first book, Word by Word: The Secret Life of Dictionaries, was released by Pantheon in March 2017.

Personal life

Stamper is married with two children. She lives in Collingswood, New Jersey.