Want to play a part in deciding on Oxford Language’s word of the year for 2022?
From now until Friday, December 2nd, English language speakers are invited to vote on which word will earn the title of ‘Oxford’s Word of the Year 2022’.
The three words and their definitions (as defined by Oxford Languages) that are up on the voting list are:
- In ‘metaverse’, we see the conceptual future brought into the vernacular in 2022. From hybrid working in VR, to debates over the ethics and feasibility of an entirely online future, usage of this word has quadrupled in October 2022 compared to the same period last year.
- ‘#IStandWith’ recognizes the activism and division that has characterized this year. From war in Ukraine, to the Depp v. Heard lawsuit, this ‘word’ coined on social media to align your views to a cause or person can often further foster dispute (and sometimes even hate speech) in its polarizing nature.
- ‘Goblin mode’ is another relatively new concept: the idea of rejecting societal expectations put upon us, in favour of doing whatever one wants to. Early usage dates back to 2009/10, but as we emerged from lockdowns all over the world, the phrase has been coined in rejection of returning ‘back to normal’ after a fake ‘quote’ from Julia Fox brought the term back into the mainstream.
Want to take part in voting for this year’s word of the year? Click the link here for your chance to vote before Friday, December 2nd.
