In a groundbreaking move, the Oxford English Dictionary is inviting the public to participate in the selection of its Word of the Year. According to a report by the BBC, lexicographers at Oxford University Press have narrowed the choices down to three contenders: metaverse, #IStandWith, and the term goblin mode. Each of these words reflects significant cultural trends from the past year, according to the dictionary’s team. Voters have until December 2 to make their choice.
In contrast, rival dictionaries have already made their selections for 2022. Collins has named ‘permacrisis’—defined as “an extended period of instability and insecurity”—as its word of the year, while Cambridge Dictionary opted for ‘homer’. For context, last year, Oxford chose ‘vax,’ referring to “vaccine” or “vaccination.”
Here are the meanings behind the three words available for public voting:
- Metaverse: This term describes a theoretical virtual space where individuals can interact, work, and socialize through digital avatars. Major players like Facebook are investing heavily in this area. Oxford noted a fourfold increase in the use of the term in October 2022 compared to the previous year, attributed to the rise of remote work and virtual reality experiences.
- #IStandWith: This hashtag has emerged as a significant way to show solidarity with various causes and movements amid the year’s social movements and divisions. The Oxford team highlighted its popularity, particularly on TikTok, where it accumulated 2.8 million views.
- Goblin mode: A slang term that originated around 2009-2010, this phrase gained renewed attention when it was humorously associated with a fabricated headline involving actress Julia Fox and her breakup with rapper Kanye West.
“Over the past year, the world reopened, and it is in that spirit that we’re inviting language enthusiasts everywhere to engage in the selection process for the Word of the Year,” said Casper Grathwohl, President of Oxford Languages, in a statement to the BBC.
Other notable candidates included:
- Platty Jubes: A social media-driven term celebrating the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
- Quiet Quitting: This concept refers to fulfilling only the minimum responsibilities of a job without additional commitment or enthusiasm.
