We analyse data and trends to identify new and emerging words and expressions, which our lexicographers think of as a ‘single unit’, and examine the shifts in how more established language is being used. The team also consider suggestions from our colleagues and the public, and look back at the world’s most influential moments of the year to inform their shortlist—culminating in a word or expression of cultural significance.
Expressions get to be considered words. For example, in 2011, it was “Squeezed middle”, 2016 had “post-truth”, 2019 was, “Climate emergency”… 2022 had the first public vote, and chose, “Goblin mode”, for better or worse.
but that’s two words
Yeah wtf is this brain rot
It’s a compound noun, only reason it’s not regarded as a single word is because English has a weird orthography.
I all other germanic languages it would be spelled as ‘brainrot’, but noooo, English has to be weird about it.
English night have Germanic ancestry, but now it’s got a latin stepdad.
Germanic mother, Latin Step-father, Celtic roommate, and has picked up random words trying to impress women at the gym.
Thoreau called it “brain-rot” in ‘Walden’, but kids these days think that’s a minus key rather then a dash so…
What? Kids know what a dash is lol
Brainrot Girlfriend was probably responsible for the word’s popularity.
Their approach-
Expressions get to be considered words. For example, in 2011, it was “Squeezed middle”, 2016 had “post-truth”, 2019 was, “Climate emergency”… 2022 had the first public vote, and chose, “Goblin mode”, for better or worse.