American dictionary Merriam-Webster recognizes “its” word of 2024 year
11 December 2024 12:42
“Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Year 2024 is “polarization”. This particular word was searched for many times during the year by users and was used a lot in the media. This is stated on the dictionary’s website, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports.
According to the compilers of the dictionary, the volume of searches on Merriam-Webster.com during the year reflected the desire of Americans to better understand the complex state of affairs in their country and around the world.
“Polarization” is defined by Merriam-Webster as “a division into two sharply distinct opposites; a special condition in which the opinions, beliefs, or interests of a group or society no longer align along something in common but are concentrated on opposite extremes.”
It is obvious that this word has become the most popular, given the polarization that was present in the United States during the election campaign and remains after it, and the degree of which was and is supported by the media, which has repeatedly stated that “the 2024 presidential election has made the country more polarized than ever.”
But not only “polarization” but also “modest,” “totality,” “alliance,” “cognitive,” “democracy,” and other words also defined this year, according to Merriam-Webster.
What were the other contenders for the word of the year?
Totality
In April, the moon caused astronomical excitement when it passed in front of the sun and cast a narrow shadow over 13 US states, briefly turning day into night. The allure of the experience of totality, “the phase of an eclipse during which it is total; the state of being totally eclipsed,” prompted much travel and commentary, and introduced many to the less common meaning of the word.
Demure
In August, TikToker Jools Lebron posted the first of a series of videos with a catchphrase that went viral. “Do you see how I do my makeup for work?” she asked and answered: “Very modestly, very carefully.” The phrase “very modestly, very carefully” became a meme, and it was modestly used. In its earliest use in the 14th century, the word demure described people who did not draw attention to themselves. Since then, it has also come to describe those whose shyness is an act.
Fortnight – Two weeks
Taylor Swift’s song “Fortnight” uses a predominantly British word meaning “a period of 14 days; two weeks”. And from relative obscurity, it has become the subject of active search.
Pander
The word “pander” – “to say, do, or provide what someone wants or demands, even if it is incorrect, good, or reasonable” – has been actively searched for since mid-October, when both sides in the presidential election used it equally actively to ridicule the other side.
Resonate
Following the news of how much this word appeals to the most prolific of modern writers, which is ChatGPT, “Resonate” was identified as ChatGPT’s favorite. It also appeared frequently in news reports about political positions and issues that resonated with voters.
Cognitive
For many reasons related to the U.S. election, searches for cognitive searches, meaning “relating to, occurring in, or involving conscious intellectual activity such as thinking, reasoning, or remembering,” increased markedly this year.
Democracy
Along with related searches such as “representative democracy” and “democracy vs. republic”, there was a significant increase in the number of searches for democracy during the year as people tried to fully understand what it means. The word “democracy” is never found in the Declaration of Independence or the U.S. Constitution, but it has long been in the center of attention in America and the world.
It’s worth recalling that last year, the Merriam-Webster dictionary recognized the word authentic, which describes the desire for authenticity. The word has gained popularity due to talks about artificial intelligence, the search for self and one’s own identity.
