The English word “shitstorm” is now so commonly used by Germans that the country’s most popular dictionary has added it, in its latest edition.

The latest edition of the dictionary defines the word as “a storm of indignation expressed via the internet, sometimes accompanied by offensive comments.”

This is slightly different to the English meaning, the OED (Oxford English Dictionary) defines shitstorm as “a situation marked by violent controversy” – tending to a wider, non-technology usage. It seems Americans are too polite to descend to using such profanities.

When she was asked, during a press conference last year, if internet users should have some kind of driving license, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said: “Yes but I won’t make any suggestions here. Otherwise we’ll get a total ‘shitstorm’ tomorrow.”

The word was named “Anglicism of the Year” by a national panel of language experts in 2011, who said it “filled a significant gap in the German language”.

Germans also use the word “candystorm” to refer to an outpouring of approval for public figures. That word has yet to enter the dictionary, on the basis its use is only occasional & sporadic.