Dictionary forced to change 'biker' definition
Unlikely row sparked over offensive depiction of motorcyclists
OXFORD English Dictionary publishers Oxford University Press have been forced to drop their existing definition of the word 'biker' after complaints by, unsurprisingly, bikers.
The previous definition of 'biker' read: 'A motorcyclist, especially one who is a member of a gang: a long-haired biker in dirty denims.'
Of 524 bikers polled over the phrasing, more than three quarters described it as inaccurate, whilst 20% claimed to be 'outraged and offended' by it.
The study, conducted by insurance firm Bennetts, described the average modern biker as 'likely to be over 35, middle class, working in IT or telecoms, and likely to ride a Honda.'
Just one in ten bikers now has long hair, according to the report.
The definition has been amended to read: 'Biker: A motorcyclist, especially one who is a member of a gang or group'.
However 65% of the bikers polled claim to spend most of their time riding alone, and not 'as part of a gang'.
How would your dictionary definition of a biker read?
