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Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Year: Polarization

This year, Merriam-Webster has selected “polarization” as its Word of the Year, a choice that reflects the increasingly divided political landscape in the United States. In contrast, other dictionaries like Collins and Oxford chose lighter terms, with Collins opting for “brat” and Oxford selecting “brain rot.” However, Merriam-Webster’s focus on “polarization” underscores a significant societal trend amid an election year that has vividly illustrated this division.

The concept has gained traction as political figures, such as Kamala Harris, have expressed concerns about the implications of fascism under Donald Trump. Meanwhile, Trump himself has engaged in harsh rhetoric, accusing his opponents of aiming for “destruction.” Merriam-Webster aptly notes that polarization is a shared understanding across the political spectrum, indicating a significant ideological divide.

The term is defined by Merriam-Webster as “division into two sharply distinct opposites; especially a state in which the opinions, beliefs, or interests of a group or society no longer range along a continuum but become concentrated at opposing extremes.” Peter Sokolowski, the dictionary’s editor-at-large, explains that this reflects a societal shift towards more extreme positions rather than a middle ground.

This trend of polarization extends beyond politics, permeating various aspects of American culture. Noteworthy examples include public disputes over celebrity news and sports events, such as the ongoing feud between Kendrick Lamar and Drake, as well as controversies regarding gymnast Jordan Chiles’s bronze medal performance at the Olympics.

Merriam-Webster’s choice is informed by its extensive search analytics, with the website attracting approximately 100 million visits monthly. Since last year, interest in the term “polarization” has seen a modest increase, particularly as the election cycle has taken shape. Sokolowski highlights the evolution of the dictionary, noting that it is only in recent decades that such insight into word usage has become available.

Interestingly, while “polarization” has roots in scientific discourse dating back to the early 1800s—where it originally described the behavior of light waves—its political and cultural connotations have emerged more prominently over time. The term derives from the Latin word polaris, referring to the poles of a planet.

Despite the contentious nature of polarization in society, its usage remains widely accepted across various news platforms, including MSNBC, CNN, and Fox News. Sokolowski points out the irony that everyone seems to agree on the term, despite its implications of division.

Additionally, Merriam-Webster identified other noteworthy contenders for Word of the Year. Among them was “demure,” popularized on TikTok by Jools Lebron, and “fortnight,” linked to a Taylor Swift song describing a two-week relationship. In scientific contexts, “totality,” which pertains to the total solar eclipse in April, gained prominence, alongside “allision,” defined as the act of a ship striking a stationary object, following a notable bridge collapse in Baltimore earlier this year.

Political terminology also featured prominently, with “pander,” referencing strategies used by politicians to gain favor with voters, and “democracy,” which saw heightened search interest as the electoral campaign was underway. This focus on democracy ties back to Merriam-Webster’s inaugural Word of the Year designation in 2003, which remains a key term searched by the public, indicating an ongoing concern for the state of democratic processes.

“There’s a poignancy to that, that people are checking up on it,” Sokolowski remarked. “Perhaps the most encouraging takeaway is that the public’s curiosity shows they are engaged and paying attention.”

The Associated Press contributed reporting

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www.theguardian.com