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Oxford Dictionaries Names 'Brain Rot' as 2024 Word of the Year

Oxford Dictionaries has chosen 'brain rot' as the Word of the Year for 2024, emphasizing its rise in usage due to digital engagement.

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Updated: Dec 2nd, 2024, 6:08 PM ET

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'Brain rot,' defined as the decline of mental capacity from excessive consumption of trivial online content, has been named Oxford Dictionaries’ 2024 Word of the Year, reflecting cultural anxieties surrounding digital life. Its usage surged 230% in one year, driven largely by Gen Z and Alpha online communities. The term was first coined by Thoreau in 1854 and has gained new relevance today as younger generations humorously acknowledge its implications. More than 37,000 votes were cast for this term, which bested finalists such as 'demure' and 'dynamic pricing.'

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