What is the Merriam-Webster Word of the Year
The Merriam-Webster Word of the Year is an annual linguistic selection that reflects sustained interest in a word or concept across the year. Chosen through a combination of online lookup data, cultural relevance, and editorial judgment, it is not a word Merriam-Webster endorses but one its readers look up and discuss in meaningful volume. This practice offers a snapshot of collective curiosity, highlighting terms tied to public events, debates, and evolving language usage while providing a durable reference for understanding long-term trends in American English.
How Merriam-Webster Chooses the Word of the Year
Data-driven insight and editorial judgment
Merriam-Webster determines its Word of the Year primarily by analyzing stable, multiyear patterns in lookups rather than isolated spikes driven by short-lived news cycles. Editors review year-long search data, track emerging terms, and consider sociocultural contexts that keep a word prominent in public discourse. The decision emphasizes sustained interest and broader linguistic significance, ensuring the chosen word meaningfully represents shifts in how people use and engage with language.
Notable past selections and their significance
Each year’s choice illustrates the interplay between language, culture, and public attention. Words are selected because they resonate across communities, appear in policy discussions, or emerge in technological and social debates. Below is an overview of past Words of the Year, their lookup growth, and the themes that made them notable.
| Year | Word | Reported Lookup Increase | Key Context or Theme |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | authentic | Over 150% year-over-year increase in lookups | Discussions of identity, truth, and verification in media and politics |
| 2022 | holocaust | Significant rise tied to historical and geopolitical discourse | Increased public attention on wartime history and related terminology |
| 2021 | vaccine | Dramatic spike linked to COVID-19 developments | Global health conversations and pandemic response |
| 2020 | pandemic | Lookups surged to record highs during the public health crisis | Everyday discourse around public health, policy, and daily life |
| 2019 | existential | Hundreds of percent increase, reflecting widespread concern | Climate, politics, and conversations about long-term risk |
| 2017 | feminism | Sharp lookup growth tied to social movements and policy debates | Gender equality, workplace, and cultural discussions |
| 2016 | surreal | Noticeable increase over the course of a volatile news cycle | Political events and cultural discourse |
Patterns across years and thematic clusters
Viewing selections over time reveals recurring themes that signal shifts in public concern and language. These patterns help readers see how single words can summarize widespread debates, policy shifts, and collective preoccupations. Merriam-Webster’s list, while annual, functions as a barometer for broader cultural trajectories.
- Health and crises: pandemic (2020), vaccine (2021)
- Social movements: feminism (2017), marriage (2015)
- Political events and leadership: surreal (2016), totalitarian (2017 runner-up)
- Technological and ethical debates: artificial intelligence (earlier years)
- Identity and authenticity: authentic (2023), escapism (2024 runner-up)
Why the Word of the Year matters for language and culture
The annual Word of the Year is more than a curiosity; it highlights how language adapts to new realities. When a word spikes in lookups, it often signals that people are encountering a term in policy, technology, or everyday conversation and seek clarity. By tracking these choices, readers gain insight into the issues that shape discourse and the vocabulary used to discuss them. The practice also reinforces the role of transparent, evidence-based language reference in public life.
Limitations and common questions
What the Word of the Year is not
The Word of the Year does not indicate Merriam-Webster’s approval or preference, nor does it reflect a moral or qualitative judgment. It is a descriptive choice based on measurable interest, and it may differ from other organizations’ selections that use alternative criteria. The list should be understood as a lens into lookup behavior and cultural attention, not a comprehensive record of all important words in a given year.
Relationship to other annual word lists
Many dictionary publishers and language organizations publish annual word selections, and criteria can vary. Merriam-Webster’s approach emphasizes sustained lookup data and editorial analysis, whereas other lists may prioritize global events, youth language, or specific thematic frames. Comparing these lists can reveal shared concerns across audiences while highlighting regional or demographic differences in how language evolves.