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Oxford University Press picks “brain rot” as word of the year. See the other finalists.
Many of us have felt it, and now it’s official: “brain rot” is the Oxford dictionaries’ word of the year.
Oxford University Press said Monday that the phrase “gained new prominence in 2024,” with its frequency of use increasing 230% from the year before.
Oxford defines brain rot as “the supposed deterioration of a person’s mental or intellectual state, especially viewed as the result of overconsumption of material (now particularly online content) considered to be trivial or unchallenging.”
The word of the year is intended to be “a word or expression that reflects a defining theme from the past 12 months.”
“Brain rot” was chosen by a combination of public vote and language analysis by Oxford lexicographers. It beat five other finalists: demure, slop, dynamic pricing, romantasy and lore.
While it may seem a modern phenomenon, the first recorded use of “brain rot” was by Henry David Thoreau in his 1854 ode to the natural world, “Walden.”
Oxford Languages President Casper Grathwohl said that in its modern sense, “‘brain rot’ speaks to one of the perceived dangers of virtual life, and how we are using our free time.”
“It feels like a rightful next chapter in the cultural conversation about humanity and technology. It’s not surprising that so many voters embraced the term, endorsing it as our choice this year,” he said.
Last year’s Oxford word of the year was “rizz,” a riff on charisma, used to describe someone’s ability to attract or seduce another person.
Collins Dictionary’s 2024 word of the year is “brat” – the album title that became a summer-living ideal.
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Oprah Winfrey unveiled her latest book club selection, “Small Things Like These” by Claire Keegan, during an appearance Tuesday on “CBS Mornings.”
The story, set in Ireland in December 1985, follows Bill Furlong, a father and local merchant, as he uncovers the truth about a Magdalene laundry — a convent where women and girls were forced into labor under harsh conditions.
“What resonated with me? First of all, read the story, and I had never heard of the Magdalene Laundries,” Winfrey said. “This story, which is heartwarming and meaningful, and it’s about a father trying to do the best he can for his family, and then has this decision to make…. For me to run across a story that’s based in truth, but is actually fiction, was what was really exciting to me.”
Keegan explained her focus on the details of daily life, saying, “We think about our lives and measure them so often by the big things that happen … but in fact, it’s how we run our daily lives that is our character.”
Winfrey resonated with a particular line from the book: “Was there any point in being alive without helping one another?”Â
“That is how I live my life,” Winfrey said. “But it’s also the reason why it’s such a beautiful Christmas story this time of the year.”
The book also explores real-life history. The Magdalene Laundries operated in Ireland from 1922 to 1996, and Keegan noted that survivors are still seeking acknowledgment and apologies from the Catholic Church.
Winfrey also announced her new podcast “The Oprah Podcast” in partnership with Starbucks. It features conversations about books and social issues. She shared that the first episode includes an interview with a woman who was sent to a Magdalene laundry at age 12.
“Small Things Like These” has been adapted into a movie starring Oscar winner Cillian Murphy. The book is available now, and episodes of “The Oprah Podcast” can be streamed on YouTube and other platforms.
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