Collins Word of the Year captures how language evolves alongside culture, technology, and global events. Each year, Collins Dictionary selects a single term that reflects the mood, debates, and preoccupations of the preceding months.
The chosen word often becomes a lens for understanding social change, political discourse, and emerging technologies. Tracking these shifts helps readers, writers, and communicators stay aware of how everyday vocabulary adapts in real time.
| Year | Word | Primary Driver | Cultural Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | AI | Rapid mainstream adoption of generative tools | Spurred policy debates, workplace anxiety, and education reform |
| 2022 | Permacrisis | Ongoing geopolitical and economic instability | Described prolonged uncertainty in politics and daily life |
| 2021 | Perseverance | Global resilience during the pandemic | Highlighted endurance in healthcare, education, and civic action |
| 2020 | Lockdown | Public health restrictions during the pandemic peak | Defined home life, remote work, and mental health challenges |
The Language of Artificial Intelligence
How AI Became a Daily Word
Collins Word of the Year often mirrors breakthroughs in artificial intelligence, with terms like "AI" and "ChatGPT" moving from niche jargon to household vocabulary. The acceleration of large language models reshaped journalism, coding, and creative work within a single year.
Public discussions about regulation, copyright, and misinformation have reinforced how deeply embedded AI has become in decision-making processes. Collins tracks these shifts by analyzing digital data, editorial judgment, and user search patterns.
Generative Tools in Education and Work
Classrooms and Boardrooms Adapt
Schools and companies adjusted rapidly to tools that can draft essays, reports, and presentations. This shift prompted new guidelines on academic integrity and professional standards across many industries.
Debates over originality, attribution, and skill development emerged as learners balanced efficiency with critical thinking. The word "AI" thus signals not only technical change but also evolving expectations around honesty and expertise.
Societal Reflections and Cultural Trends
Words as Mirrors of Collective Experience
Beyond technology, Collins Word of the Year often highlights social movements, mental health awareness, and environmental concerns. Language adapts as communities find new ways to describe identity, justice, and sustainability.
By choosing a word that resonates across media, politics, and everyday conversation, Collins captures how shared experiences reshape the way people communicate.
Global Context and Political Discourse
Geopolitical Events Shape Vocabulary
Conflicts, elections, and international agreements influence which words gain prominence in public life. Terms related to security, migration, and diplomacy often rise to the fore during periods of tension or transition.
Collins leverages its extensive corpus to identify patterns in news, broadcasting, and online content, ensuring that each selection reflects measurable changes in real-world language use.
Living with the Chosen Word
Key Takeaways for Communicators and Learners
- Observe how the word appears in news headlines, social media, and everyday conversation.
- Notice shifts in meaning, connotation, and typical collocations over time.
- Use updated style guides and dictionaries to maintain clarity and accuracy.
- Consider historical context when analyzing why a term gains prominence in a specific year.
FAQ
Reader questions
How is the Collins Word of the Year selected?
The selection combines corpus data, editorial analysis, and cultural relevance, focusing on a term that demonstrates significant and sustained impact across English-language media and everyday usage.
Can a phrase or compound word be chosen instead of a single word?
Yes, Collins has selected multi-word entries when they capture a cultural shift more accurately than a single term, as long as they function as a recognizable unit in contemporary English.
Does the choice affect language education or publishing standards?
While the word serves as a cultural marker, it does not dictate teaching materials or editorial policies; educators and publishers may reference it, but usage rules remain guided by broader style guides.
Is the Collins Word of the Year similar to other dictionary Word of the Year lists?
Different dictionaries use varying methodologies, but Collins emphasizes frequency, collocation patterns, and societal resonance, which can lead to distinct choices compared with other lists.