Language drift refers to the gradual evolution or change in language over time, where words, phrases, pronunciations, and grammar shift in meaning or structure. This can happen for many reasons, such as cultural influences, technological advancements, social changes, or the natural evolution of how people use language.
For example, words may develop new meanings, sounds might shift, or new words could be created while old ones fall out of use. It can also refer to how language usage diverges within different communities or regions over time, which can lead to dialects or even entirely separate languages.
Language drift is an inevitable part of how languages evolve and adapt to the needs and experiences of speakers.