Other contenders in Oxford Dictionary’s list included ‘aura farming’ and ‘biohack,’ both popular terms on social media|Pa Photos|CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

The Oxford Dictionary has picked “rage bait” as its 2025 Word of the Year, citing that usage of the term has tripled over the past 12 months. So, what does the phrase mean?

Rage bait refers to online content that is intentionally designed to provoke anger and boost engagement.

CNN points out that most of the words dictionaries have chosen this year are either internet or tech-related.

Cambridge Dictionary chose “parasocial,” which describes one-sided emotional bonds fans feel with stars they’ve never met, partly influenced by singer Taylor Swift’s engagement to NFL player Travis Kelce and the internet’s reaction to it.

Collins Dictionary picked “vibe coding,” referring to AI-assisted software development.

Other contenders in Oxford’s list included “aura farming” and “biohack,” both popular terms on social media.