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News Articles: word of the year

Dictionary.com lexicographers analyze headlines, social media trends, search engine results and other data to come up with the word of the year. This year, it's "demure."

'Demure' is Dictionary.com's word of the year. If that's news to you, here's the backstory

Usage of the word soared after TikToker Jools Lebron used it in her signature catchphrase "very demure, very mindful."

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By:
  • Elizabeth Blair
"Although clearly a desirable quality, <em>authentic </em>is hard to define and subject to debate," wrote Merriam-Webster about its word of the year.

Merriam-Webster's word of the year definitely wasn't picked by AI

"Authentic" was one of this year's most looked-up words, according to the lexical leader. That speaks volumes about our quest for truth in an age of algorithms and online artifice.

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By:
  • Emily Olson
A person prepares to administer a Pfizer COVID vaccine at a clinic in Ferguson, Missouri in August 2021. Merriam-Webster has chosen "vaccine" as the word of the year, citing a sustained surge in lookups.

Merriam-Webster's 2021 word of the year is, of course, 'vaccine'

The word "vaccine" saw a more than 600% increase in lookups this year over last. In its announcement, Merriam-Webster noted that it's come to represent much more than just medicine.

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By:
  • Rachel Treisman
A social distancing sign on the ground. "Social distancing" was one of dozens of terms highlighted by researchers in Oxford Languages' 2020 Word of the Year campaign.

Oxford's Defining Words Of 2020: 'Blursday,' 'Systemic Racism' And Yes, 'Pandemic'

Too much happened in 2020 for Oxford Languages to choose a single word of the year. So they opted for dozens.

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By:
  • Reese Oxner