If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably spent far too long endlessly scrolling on TikTok and the internet this year. It might have caused a bit of brain rot, a term which has actually been awarded Oxford English Dictionary’s Word of the Year.
After a public vote which saw over 37,000 people participate, ‘brain rot’ came out on top. Oxford language experts offered up a shortlist of six words, which included ‘lore’, ‘dynamic pricing’, ‘demure’, ‘slop’, ‘romantasy’ and of course, ‘brain rot’.
So why has ‘brain rot’ been such an influential word for 2024? According to language experts, the term has been used 230 per cent more between 2023 and 2024, which is massive. It’s not exactly a new term, with the first recorded usage found in Henry David Thoreau’s book Walden, published in 1854. I guess it’s about time it had a ~moment~ in the sun!
The dictionary defines the term as “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 to be trivial or unchallenging. Also: something characterised as likely to lead to such deterioration”.
President of Oxford Languages Casper Grathwohl said he wasn’t surprised ‘brain rot’ was so popular amongst voters.
“‘Brain rot’ speaks to one of the perceived dangers of virtual life, and how we are using our free time. It feels like a rightful next chapter in the cultural conversation about humanity and technology,” Grathwohl said.
“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.”
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The dictionary chooses a word each year that experts believe reflects trends seen in that year, with last year’s word being ‘rizz’ and ‘goblin mode’ taking the crown in 2022.
What are the other dictionary words of the year?
Cambridge Dictionary announced in November that its word of the year is ‘manifest’, which is extremely wholesome. One of the biggest moments for the word this year was when Dua Lipa said on stage she’d manifested headlining Glastonbury. We love a queen who knows what she wants!
Collins Dictionary’s word for 2024 is ‘brat’, which is extremely brat. Australia is finally getting their brat summer (after waiting for what seems like forever), so we’re gonna continue this trend in Charli XCX’s honour!
Dictionary.com’s word of the year is ‘demure’, which I love. It comes from the TikTok trend started by Jools Lebron in August, when she declared she came to work “very demure, very mindful”.
I have absolutely no idea what’s coming our way in 2025, but I’m ‘holding space’ for all the delicious memes and trends to come.
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