How to sum up 2024? The Oxford University Press word of the year is ‘brain rot’
The word of the year is intended to be “a word or expression that reflects a defining theme from the past 12 months.”
The term "brain rot" has officially been named Oxford Dictionaries’ Word of the Year for 2024.
Oxford University Press announced on Monday that the phrase, which gained significant attention in 2024, saw a 230% increase in usage compared to the previous year. The term is defined by Oxford as “the supposed deterioration of a person’s mental or intellectual state, especially viewed as the result of overconsumption of material (particularly online content) deemed trivial or unchallenging.”
The word of the year is selected based on its reflection of a key theme from the past year. “Brain rot” was chosen through a combination of public voting and language analysis by Oxford lexicographers, surpassing five other finalists: demure, slop, dynamic pricing, romantasy, and lore.
Although it may appear to be a modern phenomenon, "brain rot" was first recorded by Henry David Thoreau in his 1854 work Walden, where he lamented the human disconnect from nature.
Casper Grathwohl, President of Oxford Languages, explained that in its contemporary context, "brain rot" highlights the perceived dangers of excessive virtual engagement and how people are spending their free time. He noted, “It feels like a rightful next chapter in the cultural conversation about humanity and technology. It’s not surprising that so many voters embraced the term, endorsing it as our choice this year.”
In 2023, Oxford’s Word of the Year was “rizz,” a term describing someone’s ability to attract or charm others, derived from charisma.
Meanwhile, Collins Dictionary has named “brat” as its 2024 Word of the Year, inspired by the title of an album that became emblematic of the summer lifestyle.
