word of the year

Culture news

Dictionary.com’s 2025 Word of the Year is...

Each year, Dictionary.com’s Word of the Year serves as “a linguistic time capsule, reflecting social trends and global events that defined the year.” The site’s lexicographers analyzed the data, trends and search engine results, and came up with their pick for 2025...

04/11/2025

Culture news

What is 2025's German Youth Word of the Year?

Every year, Germany’s youth select their annual "Youth Word of the Year", which is voted for by youngsters around the country.

20/10/2025

Culture news

Good news: ‘Kindness’ named Oxford Children’s Word of the Year 2024

Finally some good news: The word ‘kindness’ has been chosen as Children's Word of the Year for 2024 after a survey of thousands of young people.

22/01/2025

Culture news

US dictionary Merriam-Webster picks topical Word of the Year 2024

Whether it's politically or culturally, “polarization means that we are tending toward the extremes rather than toward the center.”

09/12/2024

Culture news

‘Brain rot’ is Oxford’s Word of the Year for 2024

‘Brain rot’ refers to the “supposed deterioration of a person’s mental or intellectual state, especially viewed as the result of overconsumption of material considered to be trivial or unchallenging.”

02/12/2024

Culture news

'Demure' named 2024 Word of the Year by Dictionary.com

Its exact meaning is hard to pinpoint, as a word once associated with shyness and modesty has taken on a whole new life through internet fame this year. Another case of TikTok recontextualizing language - which can be both fascinating and confusing.

26/11/2024

Culture news

'Enshittification': What does this Word of the Year mean?

Australia’s Macquarie Dictionary has selected its word of the year, and it encompasses a widespread feeling that things have been getting worse when it comes to all things digital. And more...

26/11/2024

Culture news

Cambridge Dictionary make ‘manifest’ their 2024 Word of the Year

After a surge of celebrity-inspired popularity on social media, the word 'manifest' has been elected Cambridge Dictionary's Word of the Year. However, this scientifically unproven practice can be controversial...

20/11/2024

Culture news

‘Brat’ chosen as Collins Dictionary Word of the Year

Just as we were getting over ‘brat summer’, the word ‘brat’ has been crowned 2024’s Collins Word of the Year...

01/11/2024

Culture news

Germany’s ‘Youth Word of the Year’ for 2024 has been announced

Every year, Germany selects their annual "Youth Word of the Year", which is voted for by youngsters around the country.

25/10/2024

Culture news

Oxford's Word of the Year for 2023 is...

Each year, Oxford University Press chooses a word or expression that has reflected the last 12 months and has potential to have lasting cultural significance or provides a snapshot into history. And this year's word is...

04/12/2023

Culture news

What is Merriam-Webster's Word of the Year for 2023?

A fitting Word of the Year from Merriam-Webster, which reflects one of 2023's main issues: distinguishing between "real" and "fake"...

27/11/2023

Culture news

The Words of the Year that define 2022

This year's choices have struck a darker tone, being dominated by grim world events such as the war in Ukraine and the cost of living crisis.

26/12/2022

Climate

What is your climate shadow? Learn the new climate lingo for 2023

“Words matter because they can shape our perceptions, beliefs, and behaviour. In the policy realm, they guide decisions and actions," says climate linguistics expert Susan Joy Hassol. So how will we talk about climate in 2023?

20/12/2022

Culture news

What were the most Googled terms in 2022?

Above wars and famous slaps, the top most Googled term kept people guessing all year.

08/12/2022

Culture news

Public votes 'goblin mode' as Oxford Word of the Year 2022

The public has spoken! And the winner is… Goblin mode.

05/12/2022

Culture news

Oxford Word of the Year 2022 to be decided by public for first time

Will it be ‘metaverse’, ‘#IStandWith’ or ‘goblin mode’?

24/11/2022

Culture news

What are the most mispronounced words of 2021?

Newsreaders have stumbled over these words, but where do the biggest tongue-twisters of 2021 come from?

07/12/2021

World News

Merriam-Webster chooses vaccine as the 2021 word of the year

Merriam-Webster has chosen "vaccine" as the word of the year in 2021. There was an increase of 1,048% in lookups compared to 2019.

29/11/2021

Culture news

'NFT' announced as the Collins Dictionary word of the year for 2021

Non-fungible tokens pique interest in list that includes 'metaverse' and 'climate anxiety'.

25/11/2021