In 2013, the word was selfie while in 2015, the emoji that evokes tears of joy managed to be crowned as the Oxford dictionaries Word of the Year.
For 2018, as with other past years, the word recognised by the Oxford dictionaries seems to signify current world tensions.
The word is toxic.
Oxford announced it on their official twitter page with a video explaining why toxic had beat other candidates to this year’s crown.
As per the video, this year more than ever, the word toxic has been used to describe a vast array of “things, situations, concerns and events.”
The video also says that the word toxic has been used in its literal sense to talk about the physical environment.
Toxic however propelled to become Word of the Year because its definition has also expanded as it has “truly taken off into the realm of metaphor.” The word has been used to describe “workplaces, schools, culture, relationships and stress.”
The Oxford Word of the Year 2018 is… pic.twitter.com/DotlZxxJVe
— Oxford Languages (@OxLanguages) November 14, 2018
Oxford says the word has stretched into the personal and political spaces, with the #MeToo movement putting the spotlight on toxic masculinity.
“It is the sheer scope of its application that has made it the stand out choice for the Oxford Word of the Year.”
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Toxic takes over from the 2017 word, youthquake.
The Oxford Word of the Year is a word or expression that is judged to reflect the ethos, mood, or preoccupations of the passing year, and have lasting potential as a term of cultural significance, Oxford says on its Word of the Year website.
Other words on the shortlist for the Oxford Word of the Year 2018 were Cakeism, Big Dick Energy, Overtourism, Gaslighting, Gammon, Incel, Orbiting and Techlash.
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