Every year, we eagerly wait for end-of-year highlights: Spotify Wrapped, Artist Wrapped, Apple Music Replay, the best movies, top travel destinations, and more. Now, dictionaries have revealed another highly anticipated moment—the Word of the Year!
Think about the words that made headlines or shaped social media discussions in 2024. Take a moment to list your guesses, and let's see if you've caught some of them (we're betting you have!).
Here Are The Words Of The Year, According To Different Dictionaries
1. Demure (Dictionary.com)
If "Very Demure, Very Mindful" made your list, you're right on target! Dictionary.com has officially announced "demure" as its Word of the Year for 2024. Demure took on a fresh meaning this year, especially on social media, where it became a shorthand for describing anything related to mindfulness, restraint, or choosing security over confrontation. It's about opting for calm composure rather than aggressive responses.
According to Dictionary.com, usage of demure surged nearly 1200% in digital media alone. This rise began early in the year, peaking between January and late August.
"By the week of August 18, 2024, however, there was almost 14 times more interest in the term, highlighting the term's almost overnight explosion in popularity. At the peak of the trend, demure had 200 times more searches on Dictionary.com than it did on dates preceding August," Dictionary.com reported.
2. Manifest (Cambridge Dictionary)
2024 was a roller coaster it got everyone manifesting so hard that "manifest" as a term has become Cambridge Dictionary's Word of the Year! This term took center stage as people sought to turn their aspirations into reality, using "manifest" as a keyword for visualizing positive outcomes and attracting good fortune. It is as if you're urging the universe to work in your favor. Like what Cambridge said, it is an "affirmation" and a "visualization" that something good will happen.
The word saw a surge in popularity due to the growing influence of self-help movements and mental health advocacy. Cambridge reported that "manifest" was looked up nearly 130,000 times on their website.
"Manifest won this year because it increased notably in lookups, its use widened greatly across all types of media, and it shows how the meanings of a word can change over time," Wendalyn Nichols, Publishing Manager of Cambridge Dictionary, said.
3. Brain Rot (Oxford Dictionary)
If you felt like 2024 left you with some serious brain rot, you're not alone—37,000 others apparently shared that sentiment! That's why the Oxford Dictionary named "brain rot" as its Word of the Year. This term, widely used by Gen Z and Gen Alpha, humorously describes the mental fatigue or numbness from consuming too much online content. It especially refers to addictive media that leaves viewers feeling mentally drained or overwhelmed.
According to Oxford's data, usage of brain rot surged by 230% between 2023 and 2024.
"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," Oxford Dictionary expressed.
4. Brat (Collins Dictionary)
The word 'brat' didn't just trend—it became a social media sensation, earning Collins Dictionary's Word of the Year for 2024. Defined as having a "confident, independent, and carefree attitude," brat captured a vibe that many people, especially Gen Z, connected with this year.
Collins credited British singer Charli XCX for popularizing the term through her hit album, Brat. She described a brat as "someone who likes to party, can be a bit messy, and sometimes says silly things."
"More than a hugely successful album, 'brat' is a cultural phenomenon that has resonated with people globally, and 'brat summer' established itself as an aesthetic and a way of life," Collins explained.
