The term that captured the spirit of 2022, gaining cultural relevance, is unveiled.

Oxford University Press has disclosed the word selected as the 2022 Word of the Year, chosen based on its prominence and cultural relevance throughout the past year.

The Word of the Year is defined as a word or phrase that encapsulates the prevailing attitudes, concerns, or themes of the year, with the potential to hold lasting cultural importance. Oxford’s editors monitor language trends, paying attention to the frequency with which new terms are used across various platforms.

In recent years, words such as “vax,” “climate emergency,” and “toxic” have been chosen for their widespread impact. This year’s selected word first gained attention on Twitter back in 2009 but experienced a surge in popularity in early 2022.

The editors’ decision highlights how language evolves in response to societal changes, with the chosen term reflecting the mood and issues that shaped the year.

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