Oxford University Press announced their shortlist for this year’s Word of the Year yesterday, 14 November 2024. Members of the public are invited to vote for their favourite word.
What is the Word of the Year all about?
Every year, UK-based lexicographers (experts in lexicography, i.e. compiling dictionaries) analyse the English language to summarise words and expressions that have reflected our world during the last 12 months. They analyse data and trends to identify new and emerging words. Additionally, they examine the shifts in how more established words are being used.
The team also considers suggestions from colleagues and the public and looks back at the world’s most influential moments of the year to inform the shortlist culminating in a word or expression of cultural significance.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of Oxford’s Word of the Year.
This year’s candidates
Following are the words on this year’s shortlist. Vote for Oxford’s Word of the Year 2024 here.
Lore (noun)
A body of (supposed) facts, background information, and anecdotes relating to someone or something, regarded as knowledge required for full understanding or informed discussion of the subject in question.
Brain rot (noun)
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.
Dynamic pricing (noun)
The practice of varying the price for a product or service to reflect changing market conditions; in particular, the charging of a higher price at a time of greater demand.
Demure (adjective)
Of a person: reserved or restrained in appearance or behaviour. Of clothing: not showy, ostentatious, or overly revealing.
Slop (noun)
Art, writing, or other content generated using artificial intelligence, shared and distributed online in an indiscriminate or intrusive way, and characterised as being of low quality, inauthentic, or inaccurate.
Romantasy (noun)
A genre of fiction combining elements of romantic fiction and fantasy, typically featuring themes of magic, the supernatural, or adventure alongside a central romantic storyline.
Which is your favourite word on this year’s shortlist?
Did you vote for Oxford’s Word of the Year 2024?
Let us know by clicking on the comment tab below this article.
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