Oxford Dictionaries Word of the Year 2018 is 'toxic'

The Oxford Dictionaries have announced ‘toxic’ as their Word of the Year 2018—a word or expression chosen to reflect the passing year in language, the Oxford University Press reports.

Every year, the Oxford Dictionaries team debates over a selection of candidates, choosing the one that best captures the ethos, mood, or preoccupations of that particular year.

Defined as ‘poisonous’ and with its origins in Greek (toxikon pharmakon, meaning ‘poison for arrows’), ‘toxic’ has become a descriptor for the year’s most talked about topics.

Alongside its literal sense, data shows that people used the term to describe workplaces, schools, relationships, cultures, and stress.

Other words to make this year’s shortlist include ‘gaslighting’ – manipulating someone by psychological means into accepting a false depiction of reality or doubting their own sanity and ‘orbiting’ – the action of abruptly withdrawing from direct communication with someone while still monitoring their activity on social media.

The Word of the Year 2017 was ‘youthquake’, acknowledging the power of millennials.

Oxford Dictionaries

Oxford University Press

Word of the Year 2018

word of the year

toxic

youthquake