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Saturday, December 27, 2025

Terminology – WOTTIES 2025 – Cambridge Dictionary shortlisted Words of the Year.

Cambridge Dictionary shortlisted and defined the following terms, all related to Artificial Intelligence, as competing entries for the Word of the Year 2025.

"slop: content on the internet that is of very low quality, especially when it is created by artificial intelligence.
pseudonymization: a process in which information that relates to a particular person, for example a name or email address, is changed to a number or name that has no meaning so that it is impossible to see who the information relates to.

memeify: to turn an event, image, person etc. into a meme (= an idea, joke, image, video, etc. that is spread very quickly on the internet.)"

Cambridge Dictionary also tracked the emergence of the following terms in in 2025, providing the following definitions and usage examples:

"glazing is the excessive use of praise or flattery, especially by AI chatbots, in a way that seems insincere and artificial.   
Example: When the chatbot’s responses lean too far into glazing, it immediately sounds my alarm bells.   

 bias is the object of a fan’s stanning, or excessive devotion to a singer, band or other media star. It is used especially by fans of the South Korean music genre K-pop.   
Example: My bias is V from BTS – he has the best outfits!   

 vibey describes a place that has a good vibe.   
Example: The place is vibey, has a great buzz, and is perfect for people watching.   

doom spending is the activity of spending money that you cannot afford in order to make yourself feel better. People sometimes engage in it when they feel anxious and uncertain about the future.   
Example: Although doom spending may provide short-term emotional relief, it can also have a long-term impact on your financial stability."

More than 6000 words were added to the Cambridge Dictionary in 2025. Among these new words:

"delulu: a play on the word delusional, means ‘believing things that are not real or true, usually because you choose to’.

Example: In March 2025, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese used the Gen-Z phrase “delulu with no solulu” in a speech in parliament.

tradwife: short for traditional wife – ‘a married woman, especially one who posts on social media, who stays at home doing cooking, cleaning, etc. and has children that she takes care of’ – reflects a growing, controversial Instagram and TikTok trend that embraces traditional gender roles.
Example: Hannah Neeleman of Ballerina Farm has been dubbed the queen of tradwifery.
snackable, used to describe content that you can read or play in small amounts or for a short time, reflects our ever-shrinking attention spans.
mouse jiggler, a device or piece of software used to make it seem as though you are working when you are not.
forever chemical, refers to ‘artificial chemicals that are used to make many different products, that stay in the environment for a long time and are harmful to the health of people and animals’."

Reference

'Parasocial' is Cambridge Dictionary's Word of the Year.

https://www.cambridge.org/news-and-insights/parasocial-is-cambridge-dictionary-word-of-the-year-2025

Tuesday, December 16, 2025

Terminology – WOTTIES 2025 – Macquarie Dictionary shortlisted Words of the Year

Terms competing for the Word of the Year are always at least as interesting as the winner of them all. The Macquarie Dictionary of Australian English shortlisted the following terms competing for the Word of the Year 2025. Supporting Macquarie Dictionary definitions and graphics are also included.

ate (and left no crumbs) – To perform or execute something flawlessly.

Australian sushi – Any of various thick, uncut sushi rolls with the nori wrapped around the filling in order to be eaten by hand.

BAL rating – A system of assessing a building’s potential exposure to ember attack, radiant heat, and direct flame of a bush fire.

bathroom camping – The act of isolating oneself in a bathroom or bathroom cubicle for a period of time, to seek solitude, avoid work, or regulate emotions.

bird-dogging – The act of confronting a politician at a public event with direct questions or issues, aiming to bring attention to a special issue.

blind box – A type of mystery box which contains an unseen collectible toy or figurine.

femgore – A subgenre of horror in which female protagonists are given agency over the narrative, and while still victimized, objectified or exploited to an extent, are not passive.

Ozempic face – A condition resulting from the use of a semaglutide drug, characterized by the wrinkling and sagging of the face due to rapid weight loss.

quadball – The new name for a real-life quidditch, where the aim is to score by putting a ball through any of three vertical hoops at the end of the field.

Roman Empire – Any of various events, interests, subjects, etc., that one finds themselves frequently thinking about, especially one considered unusual.

Six-Seven – A nonsense expression in which each hand is held out to the side with palms facing up, alternatively moving each up and down as if comparing weights. Also 6,7.

References
Macquarie Dictionary
https://www.macquariedictionary.com.au/?time=1765148169657
The Macquarie Dictionary Committee (Nov. 24, 2025). Macquarie Dictionary Word of the Year for 2025.
https://www.macquariedictionary.com.au/macquarie-dictionary-word-of-the-year-for-2025/

Sunday, December 7, 2025

Terminology - WOTTIES 2025 - Collins Dictionary shortlisted Words of the Year

Terms shortlisted for the Collins Word of the Year (WOTY) are no less interesting mirrors of a year’s worth of trends and events. Collins posted the following nine 2025 Words of the Year, competing with “vibe coding”, the one term that was selected as the 2025 Word of the Year. A list of nine terms, each including a copyrighted Harper Collins definition, as well as a supporting still image, and/or GIF animation.

aura farming: The deliberate cultivation of a distinctive and charismatic persona.

biohacking: The activity of altering the natural processes of one's body in an attempt to improve one's health and longevity.

broligarchy: A small clique of very wealthy men who exert political influence.

clanker: A derogatory term for a computer, robot, or source of artificial intelligence.

GIF animation file unavailable for "clanker".

Visit https://www.collinsdictionary.com/us/woty

coolcation: A holiday in a place of cool climate.

glaze: To praise or flatter (someone) excessively or undeservedly.

HENRY (acronym for High Earner, Not Rich Yet): A person who has not accrued substantial wealth from their high income due to their lifestyle or external financial demands.

micro-retirement: A break taken between periods of employment in order to pursue personal interests.

GIF animation file unavailable for "micro-retirement".

Visit https://www.collinsdictionary.com/us/woty

task-masking: The act of giving a false impression that one is being productive in the workplace.

References
Quinn, R. (Nov. 6, 2025). Collins’ Word of the Year 2025: AI meets authenticity as society shifts. Collins Love of Language Blog.
https://blog.collinsdictionary.com/language-lovers/collins-word-of-the-year-2025-ai-meets-authenticity-as-society-shifts/#google_vignette
Collins Word of the Year (WOTY)
https://www.collinsdictionary.com/us/woty

Monday, November 11, 2024

Terminology – WOTTIES 2024 (2) Collins Dictionary WOTY shortlist

Shortlisted terms for the Word of the Year are always at least as interesting as the winner of them all. The following Collins Dictionary GIF and JPEG files each present one of the nine shortlisted terms for the 2024 Word of the Year. The terms are shown together with their Collins Dictionary definition.

References
Collins Dictionary - WOTY 2024, Shortlisted words.
https://www.collinsdictionary.com/us/woty

Collins Dictionary - The Language Lover's Blog.

https://blog.collinsdictionary.com/language-lovers/a-year-when-hedonism-and-anxiety-combine/

Tuesday, December 26, 2023

Terminology: WOTTIES (2) - The 2023 OED WOTY Shortlist and Finalists.

Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

In 2023, the selection of the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) Word of the Year (WOTY) was a three-step process. First, Oxford lexicographers and terminologists monitored and analyzed the 2.1 billion-word Oxford English Corpus (OEC) for trends. They looked for words and phrases that captured: “ethos, mood, or preoccupations of a particular year, and which have potential to provide a snapshot of social history through language”, alternatively that appear to “have lasting potential as a word of cultural significance”. A process that resulted in the selection of a Shortlist, comprising eight terms and phrases.

Secondly, the public was invited to vote for four 2023 WOTY contenders, out of the eight Shortlisted terms and phrases. Finally, the four WOTY contenders, designated the four 2023 WOTY Finalists, were submitted to a committee of expert Oxford terminologists and lexicographers for selection of the definitive 2023 Word of the Year.

Below, the eight Shortlisted terms and phrases, together with their definitions, four of which Shortlisted terms and phrases were voted contending Finalists, before submission to the committee of Oxford experts that selected the 2023 winner of them all: ‘rizz’. The contending Finalists (i.e., prompt, situationship and swiftie) appear starred. The expert-selected 2023 WOTY 'rizz', at the very end of the list, is underlined.

beige flag (noun). A character trait that indicates that a partner or potential partner is boring or lacks originality; (also) a trait or habit, esp. of a partner or potential partner, viewed as extremely characteristic, but not distinctly good or bad.
de-influencing (noun). The practice of discouraging people from buying particular products, or of encouraging people to reduce their consumption of material goods, esp. via social media.
heat dome (noun). A persistent high-pressure weather system over a particular geographic area, which traps a mass of hot air below it.
parasocial (adjective). Designating a relationship characterized by the one-sided, unreciprocated sense of intimacy felt by a viewer, fan, or follower for a well-known or prominent figure (typically a media celebrity), in which the follower or fan comes to feel (falsely) that they know the celebrity as a friend.

*prompt (noun). An instruction given to an artificial intelligence program, algorithm, etc., which determines or influences the content it generates.
*situationship (noun). A romantic or sexual relationship that is not considered to be formal or established.

*swiftie (noun). An enthusiastic fan of the singer Taylor Swift.

rizz (noun). Style, charm or attractiveness; the ability to attract a romantic or sexual partner.

References

Staff - Oxford Word of the Year 2023.

https://languages.oup.com/word-of-the-year/2023/

Staff (Nov. 27, 2023). Eight words go head-to-head for Oxford Word of the Year 2023

https://corp.oup.com/news/eight-words-go-head-to-head-for-oxford-word-of-the-year-2023/

Sunday, January 29, 2023

Terminology: WOTTIES 2022 - The ADS WOTY Shortlist (2)

The American Dialect Society (ADS), Word of the Year (WOTY), shortlisted candidates are as interesting as ever this year. Submitted for nine of the most compelling categories of new words, by top American dialect specialists, the selections are extracted below from the Society's Press Release. The category winners are indexed with an asterisk. The Press Release was put together by Ben Zimmer, self-proclaimed word nut, Chair of the ADS New Words Committee, language columnist at the Wall Street Journal, contributing writer for The Atlantic, and co-host of the Slate podcast Spectacular Vernacular.

COMPETING WORD OF THE YEAR (2022)
Dark Brandon: sinister, powerful alter ego of Joe Biden (play on “Let’s Go Brandon”)
quiet quitting: doing no more than the minimum required for a job
rizz: effortless attractiveness or style (short for “charisma”)
Slava Ukraini: “Glory to Ukraine!” (said in solidarity with Ukrainian resistance)
special military operation: Russian designation for invasion of Ukraine

MOST USEFUL/MOST LIKELY TO SUCCEED
* quiet quitting: doing no more than the minimum required for a job
climate criminal: celebrity who flies excessively via private jet
longtermism: ethical position that prioritizes improving the long-term future
nepo baby: celebrity who is the child of a celebrity
rizz: effortless attractiveness or style (short for “charisma”)

POLITICAL WORD OF THE YEAR
* Dark Brandon: sinister, powerful alter ego of Joe Biden (play on “Let’s Go Brandon”)
Dobbs: Supreme Court decision reversing abortion rights (as in “post-Dobbs”)
pink trickle/splash: result of Republican “red wave” in midterms not materializing
Slava Ukraini: “Glory to Ukraine!” (said in solidarity with Ukrainian resistance)
Woman, Life, Freedom: rallying cry for women’s rights in Iran and elsewhere

DIGITAL WORD OF THE YEAR
* -dle: suffix for Wordle-like games (Heardle, Absurdle, Foodle, Worldle, Redactle, etc.)
BFFR: initialism for “be fucking for real”
chief twit: self-designation of Elon Musk after acquiring Twitter
chronically online: spending so much time online that it warps one’s sense of reality
crypto rug pull: scam in which a fraudulent development team pumps a cryptocurrency token before disappearing with the funds, leaving investors with a valueless asset
touch grass: go outside (antidote to spending too much time online)
verse: online world, as in Metaverse (Facebook’s VR platform) or Fediverse (federated servers on Mastodon)

INFORMAL WORD OF THE YEAR
* it’s giving (X): description of something exuding a particular vibe or energy (from Black drag culture)

dickriding: currying favor or sucking up to someone
(the) ick: feeling of disgust about one’s date
menty b: mental breakdown
rizz: effortless attractiveness or style (short for “charisma”)

MOST CREATIVE WORD OF THE YEAR
* -ussy: suffix as in Bottom rights subversion of the English language.
blorbo (from my shows): beloved fictional character from television or other media
-dle: suffix for Wordle-like games (Heardle, Absurdle, Foodle, Worldle, Redactle, etc.)
moid/foid: derogatory terms for men and women in incel culture
short king: positive or affectionate term for a man of modest stature

EUPHEMISM OF THE YEAR
* special military operation: Russian designation for invasion of Ukraine
camping: access to abortion, as used in informal networks circumventing state anti-abortion laws

diverse-owned: of a business, owned by members of historically underrepresented groups
leg booty: algospeak substitution for LGBT
pronouns: trans/nonbinary gender identities, as used in transphobic rhetoric to mock pronoun choice
résumé embellishment: lying about one’s accomplishments

SNOWCLONE/PHRASAL TEMPLATE OF THE YEAR
* not X: ironic framing device expressing an attitude of mock horror or incredulity
if I text you X, it means Y: explaining how to interpret an emoji or series of emojis
#IStandWithX: expression of solidarity
it’s the X for me: singling out a notable or funny aspect of something, or finding fault with someone
she’s/he’s a 10, but X: pointing out a negative or quirky quality of someone
X hits different: describing an experience that is affecting in a meaningful way

EMOJI OF THE YEAR
* 💀 [skull]: expressing figurative death (from laughter, frustration, etc.)
🫠 [melting face]: expressing embarrassment or dread
🫡 [saluting face]: sign of respect or solidarity
🫥 [dotted line face]: feeling of invisibility
🚩 [red flag]: signaling danger or problems

⬜🟨🟩 [colored boxes]: for Wordle results

Reference

Ben Zimmer (website)

https://benzimmer.com/

Spectacular Vernacular (podcast)

https://slate.com/podcasts/spectacular-vernacular

Zimmer, B. (Jan. 6, 2023) American Dialect Society Selects “-ussy” as 2022 Word of the Year. American Dialect Society Press Release.

https://www.americandialect.org/wp-content/uploads/2022-Word-of-the-Year-PRESS-RELEASE.pdf

Tuesday, December 13, 2022

Terminology - WOTTIES 2022 - The Merriam-Webster shortlist (2)

If gaslighting is the uncontested Merriam-Webster Word of the Year 2022, the list of competing Merriam-Webster 2022 WOTY candidates is no less interesting. The following words, together with their definitions, were shortlisted.

oligarch: Merriam-Webster notes that, even if the term oligarch has Greek roots, the use in question refers specifically to Russia, as in “one of a class of individuals who through private acquisition of state assets amassed great wealth that is stored especially in foreign accounts and properties and who typically maintain close links to the highest government circles.” In this sense, searches for the term spiked 521% in early March 2022, when the US and other countries placed sanctions on Russian oligarchs and their families, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Omicron: To avoid the geographical stigma of origin, the World Health Organization (WHO) decided to use Greek letters to name the various significant mutations of the COVID 19 virus. In November 2021, the fifteenth letter of the Greek Alphabet “Omicron” was designated to name the most recent significant mutation of the virus, causing spikes in searches at the Merriam-Webster dictionary online, every time the news was flooded with Omicron-related headlines.

endemic: Merriam-Webster defines endemic as: “a term used to describe a disease that is constantly present in a particular place". Consequently, the term endemic spiked 874% in January 2022”, in connection with the term Omicron.

codify: Searches for the term codify are reported to have spiked 193% in 2022, due to the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, on June 24, 2022. Code means "law" in this particular case, referring directly to President Biden's suggestion that he would push for Congress to codify abortion rights, during the next Congressional session in 2023.

LGBTQIA: An old abbreviation expanded for inclusiveness. The abbreviation stands for: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning (one’s sexual or gender identity), Intersex and Asexual/Aromantic/Agender”. The term spiked in 2022, during the whole month of June, corresponding to the month-long celebration of Gay Pride. The term spiked again in the aftermath of a deadly shooting, at a gay nightclub, in Colorado Springs.

sentient: This term spiked 180% in the aftermath of an incident involving a Google engineer, who claimed that the company’s AI Chatbox had developed humanlike consciousness. A claim that the company vigorously denied, placing the employee on paid leave.

loamy: This term refers to “a soil consisting of a friable mixture of varying proportions of clay, silt, and sand”. Searches for the term loamy are reported to have surged, when it was selected Quordle, a much harder version of the popular New York Times online game Wordle, on August 29th.

raid: The term “raid” surged 970% in August 2022, after the FBI executed a search warrant at former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago, Palm Beach residence. The event also prompted spikes in related searches for the term banana republic, referring to "a small and despotically run country".

Queen Consort: The title “Queen Consort” is reserved for the spouse of a reigning monarch. Following accession to the throne of the British King Charles III, on September 8, 2022, the title Queen Consort was bestowed upon Camilla, his wife.

References

Merriam-Webster (website)

https://www.merriam-webster.com/

Staff (Nov. 28, 2022). Word of the Year 2022 – Gaslighting.
https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/word-of-the-year

NYT Wordle

https://nytwordle.io/

Quordle

https://www.quordle.com/#/

Thursday, November 10, 2022

Terminology - WOTTIES 2022 - The Collins shortlist (2)

The Word of the Year (WOTY) shortlist is no less interesting than the winner of them all. Especially this year, since the terms shortlisted are all related to permacrisis, the Collins WOTY selected for 2022.

Below, the shortlist of the 9 words that competed with permacrisis, together with the Collins animated gif files and jpeg stills, illustrating each of them. The list includes 5 additional neologisms, added to the Collins Dictionary in 2022: partygate, lawfare, warm bank, quiet quitting and splooting.