Oxford University Press Selects ‘Brain Rot’ As Word Of The Year 2024; Know It’s Meaning
English is an evolving language, and what makes the language special is its dynamic nature. Every year brings with it a new set of words, and as per the Oxford University Press, the word of the year for 2024 is ‘brain rot.’
It is internet slang, and the Oxford University Press has defined it as:
“The supposed deterioration of a person’s mental or intellectual state.”
The word first came into prominence in 2023, and its use increased by more than 230% in 2024. The word became more entwined with the online vocabulary of Gen Alpha in recent times.
‘Brain Rot’ Meaning
Oxford University Press details the meaning of ‘brain rot’ as:
“The supposed deterioration of a person’s mental or intellectual state, especially viewed as the result of overconsumption of material (now particularly online content) considered to be trivial or unchallenging. Also: something characterized as likely to lead to such deterioration.”
It is interesting to note that the word ‘brain rot’ was not a product of the tech-savvy Gen Z but was first coined way back in Henry David Thoreau’s 1854 book Walden. However, the word is more relevant to present times.
Thoreau bewailed:
“While England endeavors to cure the potato-rot, will not anyone endeavor to cure the brain-rot, which prevails so much more widely and fatally?”
For the unversed, Gen Alpha refers to the class of people who were born after 2010, while Gen Z refers to those born before 2010.
Oxford Languages President Casper Grathwohl stated:
“These communities have amplified the expression through social media channels, the very place said to cause ‘brain rot.’ It demonstrates a somewhat cheeky self-awareness in the younger generations about the harmful impact of social media that they’ve inherited.”
However, the word is an epitome of amusing or self-deprecating banter and is more relevant to the sigma generation, who use the word to describe extremes like a cool leader or even a curvaceous woman.
Interestingly, Oxford University Press sought the help of the general public in choosing a new word to constitute the addendum in the English vocabulary in 2024. Six words were shortlisted, and the word ‘brain rot’ made it into the final list. The other words in contention included “demure,” “dynamic pricing,” “lore,” “romantasy,” and “slop.”
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