Capturing zeitgeist in a word

Every year, as the calendar flips its final pages, a curious exercise plays out: Dictionaries across the world distil the chaos of 12 months into a single word.

- KUMAR ABISHEK

Every year, as the calendar flips its final pages, a curious exercise plays out: Dictionaries across the world distil the chaos of 12 months into a single word. And no, it's not just about plucking a buzzy term off trending hashtags or catchy headlines; The word of the year is meant to embody the collective mood—a linguistic mirror to our shifting priorities, anxieties, and obsessions.

Take "manifest," Cambridge Dictionary's word of the year for 2024. A term with mystical undertones, manifest has reemerged as a modern mantra for success, fueled by the affirmations of celebrities like pop star Dua Lipa and gymnastics icon Simone Biles. Searches for the word surged—130,000 times—on Cambridge Dictionary's website, as people flocked to decode its magic. According to lexicographers, the meaning of "to manifest" has morphed into something aspirational: "To use methods such as visualization and affirmation to help you imagine achieving something you want, in the belief that doing so will make it more likely to happen."

Then there's "brat," Collins Dictionary's pick. Once a pejorative for a petulant child, this word has been rebranded with unapologetic swagger. Thanks to singer Charli XCX and Kamala Harris supporters during the US presidential race, "brat," according to Collins, now signals a "confident, independent, and hedonistic attitude."