One of the first institutions to have a ‘Word of the Year’ is Oxford Languages. The rationale behind choosing such a word is to make people aware of what word or expression has been used the most by people worldwide in the last year. The institution chooses words from the plethora of words used by the masses. Out of these words, one winner is adjudged, which reflects upon that specific year’s prevalent mood or concerns and also captures the cultural significance associated with that word.
How are the words chosen?
The institution conducts extensive research using its specific programs; through that, it gathers millions of words of English each month. Hereafter, certain software programs are tailored to identify new and emerging words and how they are used in the present context. Along with software, dictionary editors also play a crucial role in identifying words that might be ‘the one’. People also send their suggestions to the team through social media handles.
Lastly, the team selects the final word based on all the above resources. Another fact about this word is that the word of the year need not have been coined in the last 12 months. It can be an older word. The main criteria for selection is that the word needs to be used in such a manner that it became prominent in the last year.
What is the Word of the Year for 2024?
After amassing more than 37,000 votes from the public, ‘brain rot’ was declared the Word of the Year for 2024. Before coming to this final word, the experts at the institution shortlisted six words that reflected the mood and conversation prevalent in the last year. The voting lasted over 2 weeks, and as it concluded, the experts compiled all the data to consider the public’s input, voting results, and the existing language data and ultimately decided on the Word of the Year for 2024.
Why ‘brain rot’?
According to the Oxford University Press, ‘brain rot’ means ‘the supposed deterioration of a person’s mental or intellectual state, especially viewed as the result of overconsumption of material (now particularly online content) considered trivial or unchallenging. Also: something characterised as likely to lead to such deterioration.’
This word gained immense prominence as it captured people’s concerns regarding excessive consumption of low-quality internet content, especially social media. According to the institution, the usage of this word increased by 230% between 2023 and 2024.
When was it used the first time?
The first usage is recorded in 1854 in Henry David Thoreau’s book Walden. The book was a description of the experiences that he had while he lived a simple lifestyle in the natural world. He criticised society as it undervalued complex ideas. Particularly those that favoured multiple interpretations of simple concepts. He believed that this was an indication of a decline in mental and intellectual effort. His exact expression was, “While England endeavours to cure the potato rot, will not any endeavour to cure the brain rot—which prevails so much more widely and fatally?”
What is the significance of the word in the current time?
Over the last year, people have used the words wide and large. This is more noticed in the digital sphere, where this word has garnered significant popularity on platforms like TikTok. Gen Z and Gen Alpha have been the trendsetters here. Due to this, the word has also found its place in journalism venues.
Brain rot highlights the consumption of low-quality, low-value content on social media and the internet and its subsequent negative impact on the individual or society. The word also appears in the creator Alexey Gerasimov’s viral Skibidi Toilet video series, which shows bizarre incidents in the state. The word’s usage is reflected in humorous or self-deprecating situations.
Due to this word, society may also consider the negative impact that excessive consumption of this type of content has on our mental health. In lieu of this conversation, a mental health care centre in the United States of America (USA) published an article that advised people regarding the precautions and avoidance of ‘brain rot’.
Comments by Casper Grathwohl
On the selection of the word, the President of Oxford Languages, Casper Grathwohl, commented the following via a press release on the website of the Oxford University Press: “It’s been insightful and deeply moving to see language lovers all over the world participate and help us select the Oxford Word of the Year 2024.
I find it fascinating that the term ‘brain rot’ has been adopted by Gen Z and Gen Alpha, those communities largely responsible for the use and creation of the digital content the term refers to. These communities have amplified the expression through social media channels, the very place said to cause ‘brain rot’. It demonstrates a somewhat cheeky self-awareness in the younger generations about the harmful impact of social media that they’ve inherited.”
He also said, “Looking back at the Oxford Word of the Year over the past two decades, you can see society’s growing preoccupation with how our virtual lives are evolving, the way internet culture is permeating so much of who we are and what we talk about.”
What are the other Words of the Year by this institution?
The Oxford Word of the Year has been a tradition for a long time, as it has helped us define and determine the word that shaped our conversations and culture that particular year. So, as we move forward, have a look back at some of the words that have been made the ‘Word of the Year’ over the last few years:
- Toxic (2018): It is referred to as ‘poisonous’ and first appeared in English in the mid-seventeenth century from the medieval Latin toxicus, meaning ‘poisoned’ or ‘imbued with poison.
- Climate Emergency (2019): It is defined as a situation in which urgent action is required to lower or halt climate change and avoid potentially irreversible environmental damage resulting from it
- Oxford Languages could not come up with a single word for 2020 as the entire year was very eventful and witnessed too many changes and developments.
- Vax (2021): It is a vaccine or a vaccination.
- Goblin Mode (2022): It is a slang for unapologetically self-indulgent, lazy, slovenly, or greedy behavior, often rejecting social norms or expectations.
- Rizz (2023): Rizz referred to someone’s ability to attract another person through style, charm, or attractiveness; this term is from the middle part of the word ‘charisma’.
