* Constantly Evolving Language: Language is dynamic. New words are created all the time, slang terms emerge, and old words fall out of use. Dictionaries are constantly being updated, but they can never be truly comprehensive.
* Regional and Specialized Dialects: Different regions have their own unique words and pronunciations. Technical fields have specialized vocabularies. It's impossible for a single dictionary to account for every regional and specialized dialect.
* The "Fuzzy" Nature of Language: Some words exist on a spectrum, with shades of meaning that are difficult to define. For example, words like "awesome" or "epic" are subjective and can have very different meanings depending on context. It's hard to capture this nuanced meaning in a dictionary entry.
* Limited Resources: Creating and maintaining a dictionary is a massive undertaking. It requires a team of lexicographers, editors, and researchers. Resources are limited, so dictionaries focus on the most common and useful words.
* Focus on Standard Usage: Dictionaries typically prioritize words that are considered standard usage. This means words used by a large number of people and found in written materials. Slang, regionalisms, and informal words might be excluded.
* Practicality: If a dictionary included every word, it would be incredibly large and cumbersome to use. Dictionaries are meant to be practical tools, offering a manageable and useful selection of words.
So, while dictionaries are valuable resources, they represent a snapshot of language at a particular time. They are constantly evolving to reflect the ever-changing landscape of words.