Pandemic

Definition: According to Google, the word pandemic was the number one google definition search to date in Canada. As defined, it is a disease turned outbreak that spreads over a whole country or the world.  

Social distancing 

Definition: Per the CDC, social distancing, also know as physical distancing, is defined as keeping yourself at a distance from those not a part of your own household. Additionally, to successfully distance, a person has to be at least six feet apart from another person both indoors and outdoors. 

Systemic racism

Definition: Systemic racism, also known as institutional racism, is defined as a form of racism incorporated into a society that can bring about issues such as discrimination in criminal justice, housing, employment, housing, health care, politics, education systems and more, according to Google.

Furlough

Definition: According to Google, the word furlough means a leave of absence. Moreover, it can be seen as an alternative layoff where a worker can remain an employee but the company can't afford to actually pay them a full salary at a given time.

Epidemic

Definition: An epidemic is defined by Google as a "widespread occurrence of an infectious disease in a community at a particular time." It differs from a pandemic in the way that it spreads more locally than on a global scale.

Asymptomatic

Definition: Asymptomatic, another widely search term, means that an individual is infected but never shows symptoms. This is different than pre-symptomatic, where a patient later develops symptoms. 

Queer

Definition: The term queer is defined on Google as something being "strange" or "odd."

Today, however, it is used by sexual and gender minorities as a way to take back their power. It is also used to describe someone who is not heterosexual or cisgender.

BIPOC

Definition: The term BIPOC is an abbreviation of the words "Black, Indigenous, People of Color."

Caucus     

Definition:  Google defines a caucus as a meeting where local members of a political party "register their preference among candidates running for office or select delegates to attend a convention."