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When a sufficient number of people give a word(or phrase) a particular meaning for it gains that meaning. Exactly how many people are needed is of course up to debate (but one is certainly not enough)
We might well quibble and argue but that will not change the fact that the meaning of nice changed over the centuries; remove the extra layer of meaning given to the word gender; consistently place electronic before computer; or even stop people from calling genric bandages bandaids.
( Trademark law means that Johnson & Johnson can stop other companies from labeling their 'fabric bandages' BAND-AIDS but they can't stop the use of the generic bandaid in ordinary speech.)
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