Every year, big dictionary companies around the world announce their “Word of the Year.” But what is it, and why should you pay attention?
The Word of the Year is chosen to show the main feelings, worries, or spirit of the last twelve months. It isn’t always the word that people used the most. Instead, it’s the one that best tells the cultural, political, or social story of that year.
Oxford Languages has been doing this for a long time. Their choices often start big conversations and make people argue a little. Let’s take a look at the words they’ve chosen and think about what was happening in the world when they picked them.
Oxford’s Words of the Year: A Trip Through Time 🌍
2004: Chav
What it means: A negative, informal word for a young working-class person thought to be rude, aggressive, and flashy.
Why it was chosen: The term exploded in UK media to describe a certain type of person and fashion style.
2005: Sudoku
What it means: A number puzzle based on logic.
Why it was chosen: Sudoku became a worldwide craze, filling newspapers and spare time everywhere.
2006: Carbon Footprint
What it means: The amount of carbon dioxide released by a person or company.
Why it was chosen: Climate change became a major global topic; environmental awareness was rising fast.
2007: Locavore
What it means: A person who eats mostly locally produced food.
Why it was chosen: The local food movement grew strong as people wanted to live sustainably and support nearby farms.
2008: Credit Crunch
What it means: A financial crisis where banks stop lending easily, causing a recession.
Why it was chosen: The global financial crash dominated the news and everyday life.
2009: Unfriend
What it means: To remove someone from your social media friend list.
Why it was chosen: Social media changed relationships and everyday communication.
2010: Refudiate
What it means: A mistaken blend of “refute” and “repudiate,” used by politician Sarah Palin.
Why it was chosen: It showed how public speech and mistakes can shape language.
2011: Squeezed Middle
What it means: People with moderate incomes struggling with rising prices.
Why it was chosen: It captured the financial pressure on middle-class families during economic cuts.
2012: Omnishambles
What it means: A total mess; something that’s gone wrong in every possible way.
Why it was chosen: A humorous British term that fit many political and social blunders that year.
2013: Selfie
What it means: A self-taken photo, usually posted online.
Why it was chosen: The word captured the explosion of social media and smartphone culture.
2014: Vape
What it means: To inhale and exhale vapour from an e-cigarette.
Why it was chosen: Vaping became a global phenomenon, changing habits and culture.
2015: 😂 (Face with Tears of Joy)
What it means: The emoji that shows someone laughing so hard they’re crying.
Why it was chosen: It highlighted how visual language became part of everyday communication.
2016: Post-Truth
What it means: When emotions matter more than facts in public opinion.
Why it was chosen: The political climate after Brexit and US elections made this idea central.
2017: Youthquake
What it means: A powerful cultural or political shift driven by young people.
Why it was chosen: It reflected the renewed political engagement of younger generations.
2018: Toxic
What it means: Harmful or negative, used for everything from workplaces to relationships.
Why it was chosen: “Toxic” became the go-to word to describe damaging situations across society.
2019: Climate Emergency
What it means: A crisis requiring immediate action to stop environmental disaster.
Why it was chosen: Climate activism and global awareness exploded.
2020: No single word
Why it was chosen: The pandemic year was too complex for one word — “lockdown,” “social distancing,” and “Covid-19” all defined it.
2021: Vax
What it means: Short for vaccine or vaccination.
Why it was chosen: The world was united by one topic: getting vaccinated against COVID-19.
2022: Goblin Mode
What it means: Being happily lazy or messy and rejecting social expectations.
Why it was chosen: After lockdowns, people celebrated imperfection and authenticity.
2023: Rizz
What it means: Charm or attractiveness; short for “charisma.”
Why it was chosen: Online culture and short videos spread it fast — language evolved with youth slang.
2024: Brain rot
What it means: The supposed deterioration of a person’s mental or intellectual state, especially as a result of over-consuming trivial or unchallenging online content.
Why it was chosen: The phrase gained prominence as a cultural flag for how our digital lives are perceived to affect focus and attention.
2025: Rage bait
What it means: Online content deliberately designed to provoke anger, outrage, or strong emotional reactions to increase engagement.
Why it was chosen: It reflected a growing awareness of how platforms amplify emotionally charged content and manipulate attention.
What’s Your Take? 💭
Do you think these words truly capture the spirit of their years? Or are they just popular trends? The Word of the Year gives us a really interesting way to look at our changing world and the language we use to talk about it.
What word do you think will be chosen next?
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