Each year, Oxford University Press selects a word that reflects the past 12 months or holds long-term cultural significance. However, the word chosen for 2024 is quite interesting.
The word is “Brain rot.”
According to a statement from Oxford University Press, the word was selected based on the votes of over 37,000 individuals. Oxford Press had shortlisted six words, and “Brain rot” was chosen from that list.
“Brain rot” is primarily used to describe a decline in a person’s mental or intellectual state, especially for those who consume excessive amounts of certain types of content, such as online material.
Oxford Press noted that the term gained significant popularity in 2024 due to growing concerns about the negative mental effects of excessive consumption of substandard online content.
Interestingly, this is not a new word; it dates back to before the advent of computers. The term was first used in 1854 in the book Walden.
Casper Garth-Hall, president of Oxford Languages, explained that “brain rot” reflects the dangers of virtual life and serves as a reminder of how we spend our leisure time.
Previously, Oxford Press selected “riz” in 2023, “goblin mode” in 2022, and “vax” in 2021 as their words of the year.
