What’s Merriam-Webster’s word of the year for 2023? Hint: Be true to yourself

Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Year for 2023 is “authentic.” This word was chosen in a year marked by AI advancements, leadership crises, and societal shifts.

“Authentic” was chosen because 2023 saw a growing interest in the concept of authenticity. In an age of deepfakes and post-truth, people began questioning what is genuine and real. The word “authentic” came to represent various aspects of life, from cuisine to personal identity, and even as a performance in itself.

Merriam-Webster selects the Word of the Year based on data analysis of lookup spikes and their correlation with world events. The focus is on words that capture the essence of the year’s societal, cultural, and political developments.

Some runner-up words for Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Year in 2023 included “X” (linked to Elon Musk’s Twitter rebranding), “EGOT” (related to Viola Davis achieving quadruple-award status), and “Elemental” (inspired by a new Pixar film). These words also attracted unusual attention throughout the year.

Yes, there are several other noteworthy words from Merriam-Webster’s 2023 list, including “RIZZ” (slang for romantic appeal or charm), “KIBBUTZ” (related to communal farms in Israel), “IMPLODE” (linked to the Titan submersible’s implosion during a Titanic exploration), “DEADNAME” (pertaining to the name a transgender person was given at birth), “DOPPELGANGER” (meaning a double or alter ego), “CORONATION” (the act of crowning, especially in the context of King Charles III), “DEEPFAKE” (referring to convincingly altered images or recordings), “DYSTOPIAN” (associated with climate chaos and entertainment media), “COVENANT” (a formal and binding agreement), and “INDICT” (related to legal actions against former President Donald Trump).

Merriam-Webster filters out evergreen words and daily game-related words that consistently have high lookup rates. This ensures that the Word of the Year represents words that had a significant and unique impact during the year.

You can find information about Merriam-Webster’s previous Words of the Year on their official website and through various news sources and publications that cover language and culture trends.