‘Brain Rot’ Named Oxford’s Word of the Year

The Oxford University Press Declares "Brain Rot" as 2024's Word of the Year

The Oxford University Press, publishers of the esteemed Oxford English Dictionary (OED), has formally defined the phrase “brain rot” as the “perceived decline in an individual’s cognitive or intellectual capacity.” This deterioration is linked to excessive consumption of short-form online content, such as videos commonly found on platforms like TikTok.

Rise in Cultural Prominence

Reflecting its growing prevalence in contemporary discourse, “brain rot” has been designated as the Oxford University Press’s word of the year for 2024. The New York Times reports that the selection process involves analyzing a vast collection of language – approximately 26 billion words – sourced from news outlets throughout the English-speaking world.

Not Yet in the Dictionary

Interestingly, despite being chosen as the word of the year, “brain rot” is not currently included as an official entry within the OED itself. This is similar to the cases of “rizz” and “goblin mode,” which received the same honor in 2023 and 2022, respectively.

The OED editors require evidence of consistent and extensive usage before incorporating a new term into the dictionary. Recognition by the Oxford University Press, the publishing arm of the University of Oxford, does not automatically guarantee inclusion.

A Historical Perspective on New Word Adoption

The process of adding new words to the OED can be lengthy. Consider the term “tech-savvy,” which first appeared in written form in the 1980s, yet only recently became an official entry.

It is possible that “brain rot” and other recently popularized terms will eventually meet the OED’s criteria for inclusion, but sustained usage over time is essential.