‘Brain Rot’ Crowned Oxford’s 2024 Word of the Year
Oxford University Press (OUP), publisher of the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), has declared “brain rot” its 2024 Word of the Year. The term reflects modern anxieties about digital consumption and its impact on cognition.
What Is Brain Rot?
Defined as the “supposed deterioration of a person’s mental or intellectual state”, brain rot describes the effect of excessive exposure to fragmented, low-narrative online content—think endless TikTok scrolls or viral meme cycles. The term captures growing concerns about how digital overload may erode attention spans and critical thinking.
Why Did It Win?
OUP selects its Word of the Year by analyzing 26 billion words from English-language news sources, identifying terms that define cultural trends. Brain rot surged in 2024, resonating in debates about social media’s psychological toll. As the New York Times noted, it encapsulates the year’s “moods and conversations.”
A Caveat: Not (Yet) in the OED
Despite its accolade, brain rot—like past winners rizz (2023) and goblin mode (2022)—hasn’t met the OED’s strict criteria for inclusion. The dictionary requires sustained, widespread usage over time, a bar even tech-savvy (added recently despite 1980s origins) took decades to clear.
The Bigger Picture
This year’s choice highlights society’s introspection about digital habits. While brain rot isn’t a clinical term, its popularity underscores a cultural reckoning with how we consume—and are shaped by—online content.
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