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There’s a name for that feeling you get, after spending too long scrolling aimlessly, and Oxford University Press OUP, has chosen it, as its word for the year for 2024.
“Brain rot” took the title in a vote in which more than 37,000 people participated, as well as public commentary and analysis of OUP’s language data.
In a statement released Monday, OUP, which publishes the Oxford English Dictionary, defined “brain rot” as “the supposed deterioration of a person’s mental or intellectual state, especially viewed as the result of over consumption of material (now particularly online content), considered to be trivial or unchallenging.”
While the use of “brain rot” rose 230% this year, it actually first appeared more than a century ago.
The word beat out five other shortlisted contenders, which included “lore,” “romantasy” and “slop”.
“Demure,” a word that went viral over the summer following a popular TikTok video, was also shortlisted.
Hughes, S. (2024, December 2). ’Brain rot’ is Oxford dictionary’s word of the year. do you know the rest? The Times & The Sunday Times: breaking news & today's latest headlines. https://www.thetimes.com/uk/social-media/article/brain-rot-oxford-university-2024-word-year-h27p9f2br
