Global EditionASIA 中文双语Français
World
Home / World / Europe

Oxford Dictionaries picks 'toxic' as Word of the Year

Xinhua | Updated: 2018-11-16 21:21
Share
Share - WeChat

LONDON - Oxford Dictionaries announced that it has chosen "toxic" as its annual "Word of the Year", British media reported Friday.

Defining the word as "poisonous", Oxford said it had become a "descriptor for the year's most talked about topics", citing the adjective's use to describe everything from the debate around Brexit to the environment and masculinity.

The dictionary pointed to a 45 percent rise in the number of times the word has been looked up on its website, and said it best captured "the ethos, mood, or preoccupations" of 2018, thanks to "the sheer scope" of its application.

"Toxic" has defeated other shortlisted words, such as "big dick energy" and the derogatory term "gammon", to become the word of the year, according to the dictionary.

Oxford Dictionaries said that the "Me Too" movement has "put the spotlight on toxic masculinity" whereas in politics more broadly "the word has been applied to the rhetoric, policies, agendas and legacies of leaders and governments around the globe".

Oxford's word of the year is intended to "reflect the passing year in language". In 2017, its Word of the Year was "youthquake", defined as "a significant cultural, political, or social change arising from the actions or influence of young people".

Most Viewed in 24 Hours
Top
BACK TO THE TOP
English
Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site.
License for publishing multimedia online 0108263

Registration Number: 130349
FOLLOW US