Toxic debt may not have the ring of bromance, sexting or climate porn but the description of worthless loans like those that sparked the meltdown in world markets has entered everyday usage with a vengeance.

That puts it in the running for the annual popular vote on the Macquarie dictionary's favourite new word in its latest online volume.

Most of the 95 entries in 19 categories are not specifically Australian, but reflect global trends.

For the record, and for those who may not be on the cutting edge of language development, bromance refers to "a non-sexual but intense friendship between two males".

Sexting is sending or receiving a sexually explicit photo or video clip on a mobile phone. This could be a sideline for textaholics -- those who are addicted to sending text messages over the same device.

Climate porn refers to "exaggeratedly alarmist" predictions about climate change -- while climate wars are what will occur if the predictions are not so far-fetched.

A celebutard is a stupid celebrity, a fur child is a pet animal treated like a baby and a flashpacker is a backpacker who travels in relative luxury.

Baby brain is "the perceived diminished mental capacity" of pregnant women, supposedly signified by forgetfulness and loss of concentration.

Lawfare is the use of international law by one country to criticise another.

Fanta pants is apparently a reference to a redhead.

Online voting ends on Jan 31 and a committee of academics and the publisher will announce the winner in the first week of February.

- AFP