word of the year

is not in our dictionary (yet). Here's what it could mean:

Confidence: high

Results generated using artificial intelligence.

noun

A term or phrase selected by a dictionary publisher or other organization that is deemed to reflect the prevailing mood, preoccupations, or events of a specific twelve-month period.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

But Dictionary.com -- which crowned it word of the year -- said it was Generation Alpha's joke on adults who are "once again struggling to make sense of its notoriously slippery slang".

From Barron's ● Nov. 26, 2025

So there I was cranking out words, trying to find the first dollar word of the year, when what do I hear?

From "Because of Mr. Terupt" by Rob Buyea

Thesaurus

Possible Synonyms

lexical zeitgeist
annual lexicographical selection
the official vibe
the year's top term
term of the year

Possible Antonyms

Words in our thesaurus

other words

perennial term
linguistic fossil
out-of-touch term
forever word
forgotten phrase