Word of the year

Every year, dictionaries add hundreds of new words and list out their ‘word of the year,’ which are usually lexicons that circulate in culture and are widely used and understood.

Some of the most used words came from viral social media posts, music, politics, and more. Here are some of the words that dictionaries picked for 2024.

Brain rot
Oxford picked “brain rot” as its word of 2024. It refers to the “supposed deterioration of a person’s mental or intellectual state, especially viewed as the result of overconsumption of material…considered trivial or unchallenging.” The first recorded use of ‘brain rot’ was in 1854 in Henry David Thoreau’s book Walden.

Brat
Collins’s word of the year is “brat.” Inspired by Charli XCX’s sixth studio album by the same name, the term is defined as embodying “a confident, independent, and hedonistic attitude.” The phrase “brat summer” began trending as a lifestyle this year, representing a playful, carefree attitude celebrated by Gen Z and some millennials as an escape from adulting.

Demure
Dictionary.com’s pick for this year is “demure.” Popularized by TikToker Jools Lebron, the word describes modest or reserved behavior in public and workspaces. Lebron’s usage of the word in a viral video evolved into a satirical catchphrase.

The trend caught fire, with stars like Kim Kardashian, Jennifer Lopez, and RuPaul using the phrase “very demure” to promote their brands.

Enshittification
Macquarie’s word of 2024 is a term coined by Canadian journalist Cory Doctorow. “Enshittification” describes how beloved online platforms deteriorate in quality due to profit-driven decisions. Examples include bland algorithms, repetitive social media content, and reduced media diversity.

Polarization
Merriam-Webster’s word of the year is “polarization.” Defined as “causing strong disagreement between opposing factions,” the word was chosen after a deeply divisive US presidential election.

Merriam-Webster selects its word of the year by tracking spikes in searches and usage.

These words showcase the heavy influence of social media on people and culture.