Many of us have felt it, and now itBԪַs official: BԪַbrain rotBԪַ is the Oxford dictionariesBԪַ word of the year.
Oxford University Press said Monday that the evocative phrase BԪַgained new prominence in 2024,BԪַ with its frequency of use increasing 230% from the year before.
Oxford defines brain rot as BԪַthe supposed deterioration of a personBԪַs mental or intellectual state, especially viewed as the result of overconsumption of material (now particularly online content) considered to be trivial or unchallenging.BԪַ
The word of the year is intended to be BԪַa word or expression that reflects a defining theme from the past 12 months.BԪַ
BԪַBrain rotBԪַ was chosen by a combination of public vote and language analysis by Oxford lexicographers. It beat five other finalists: , slop, , and lore.
While it may seem a modern phenomenon, the first recorded use of BԪַbrain rotBԪַ was by Henry David Thoreau in his 1854 ode to the natural world, BԪַWalden.BԪַ
Oxford Languages President Casper Grathwohl said that in its modern sense, BԪַBԪַbrain rotBԪַ speaks to one of the perceived dangers of virtual life, and how we are using our free time.BԪַ
BԪַIt feels like a rightful next chapter in the cultural conversation about humanity and technology. ItBԪַs not surprising that so many voters embraced the term, endorsing it as our choice this year,BԪַ he said.
Last yearBԪַs Oxford word of the year was , used to describe someoneBԪַs ability to attract or seduce another person.
Collins DictionaryBԪַs 2024 word of the year is that became a summer-living ideal.