The dictionary is now a political weapon, edited at will by sanctimonious progressives in order to dominate their ideological opponents.

Definitions are changed with breathtaking speed in order to make the perfectly acceptable thing a conservative has said at breakfast, evidence of bigotry by dinner.

The tactic – employed Tuesday with devastating effect against US Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett – is one with which Australians are familiar.

Macquarie Dictionary announced it would broaden the definition of misogyny a week after Julia Gillard’s speech labelling the then Prime Minister Tony Abbott as a “misogynist”.

Misogyny had been defined as “a hatred of women”....