Its the Oscars for linguists, wordsmiths, versifiers, hacks, and other dealers in words.Each year, the Oxford English Dictionary folks declare the Word of the Year.It could be a bit of slang or jargon that emerges into the atmosphere (like last years rizz short for charisma).
It may not enter the dictionary, or even be a new word, but its a word that has entered our collective consciousness in a big way.More ContendersOthers have gotten into the act.The American Dialect Society last year named crapification for the way online products start off with a high quality offering, wait till it catches on and thenmakes it crappier and crappier to make more cash.The Cambridge Dictionarys Word of the Year is led by the data what users look up.Last year it was hallucinate.While we wait breathlessly for the word on theword, Collins English Dictionary has jumped the gun and proclaimed that the word of the year is.Brat.Hard to argue with that, but personally my word of the year would be pivot.
All year Ive had to be resilient, and to switch things up and change course, in pretty much every area of life.(Also not coincidentally, both my vacations this year were cancelled due to illness.) I hope that my word for 2025 will be beach.YOUR TURNBut thats me.While we wait for the folks in Oxford to weigh in, lets hear from you! What word sums up 2024 for you? (Keep it nice, please!)Virge Randall is Senior Planets Managing Editor.
She is also a freelance culture reporter who seeks out hidden gems and unsung (or undersung) treasures for Straus Newspapers; her blog Dont Get Me Started puts a quirky new spin on Old School New York City.Send Open Thread suggestions to [email protected]
Publisher: Senior Planet ( Read More )
