Oxford University Press

Introducing the #OxfordWOTY 2024 shortlist ? Our lexicographers have been hard at work analysing the words and expressions that have best reflected our world this year. Introducing six words, each vying for the prestigious title of Word of the Year 2024: ?? Demure - A word that re-entered the chat as a main-character adjective this Autumn after TikTok creator Jools Lebron popularised the word - but it has a long history, with the #OED referencing the earliest use of the word in 1377. ?? Brain rot - A word capturing the effects of endlessly consuming trivial or mindless content, especially online, leading to that all-too-familiar mental burnout. ?? Dynamic pricing - 2024 has seen a particular spike in (and controversy over) this practice in setting prices for concert tickets, resulting in some fans paying eye-watering sums and raising concerns about transparency and value for money. ?? Slop - while "slop" has also been used to describe unappetising scraps or leftovers, it now captures the low-quality content sometimes generated by #AI - edible but unsatisfying. ???? Romantasy - A genre of #fiction combining elements of romantic fiction and fantasy, typically featuring themes of magic, the supernatural, or adventure alongside a central romantic storyline. ?? Lore - Traditionally referring to ‘the body of traditional facts, anecdotes, or beliefs' relating to some particular subject. Current uses of ‘lore’ are similar to older examples in the OED, but today it's a dive into the legend of a celeb, character, or even their own personal history.

How does the ever-changing landscape of language use reflect on the role of a lexicographer? ?? Fiona, Senior Editor in the New Words team at OUP, discusses how the role of a #lexicographer has changed over time: https://bit.ly/3NGOnwm

?? One day left to vote for your #OxfordWOTY ?? Click here to cast your vote ?? https://lnkd.in/eYgRdk3u #Demure #Brainrot #DynamicPricing #Slop #Romantasy #Lore

In today's news, Lana Del Rey fans have made references to #DynamicPricing across social media platforms after being iced out of the Born to Die singer’s tour? ?? Dynamic pricing is most commonly used in the transport business, for purchases such as flight tickets, but this year has seen a significant increase in the usage of ‘Dynamic pricing’ by music lovers looking to purchase concert tickets - securing its place on this year’s Word of the Year shortlist.? Although not a new phenomenon, it’s possible that this year’s heightened awareness and use of the term reflects how many consumers are becoming reluctant to accept rising prices (although others are clearly happy to pay). Does #DynamicPricing have your #OxfordWOTY vote? Click here? https://lnkd.in/eVSz5cux.

Did you know our shortlist for this year's #OxfordWOTY dates all the way back to the Old English period? ??? Take a deep dive into the history of this year's contenders – from #Lore, the oldest word on the list, to #DynamicPricing, once jargonistic in nature and now seen in conversations surrounding the world’s biggest popstars and their…dynamic ticketing methods. Share the word you’re backing below and remember to cast your vote by Thursday 28th November! https://lnkd.in/eYgRdk3u #Demure #Brainrot #DynamicPricing #Slop #Romantasy #Lore

Did you know our shortlist for this year's #OxfordWOTY dates all the way back to the Old English period? ??? Take a deep dive into the history of this year's contenders – from #Lore, the oldest word on the list, to #DynamicPricing, once jargonistic in nature and now seen in conversations surrounding the world’s biggest popstars and their…dynamic ticketing methods. Share the word you’re backing below and remember to cast your vote by Thursday 28th November! https://lnkd.in/eYgRdk3u #Demure #Brainrot #DynamicPricing #Slop #Romantasy #Lore

"The people here really embrace the idea of making a difference in the world." ?? Our President of Oxford Languages, Casper Grathwohl, discusses his career journey at OUP and shares what he loves about Word of the Year, in this Your Oxford Story interview ?? Watch Casper's Your Oxford Story here: https://bit.ly/4fG3i61

Did you catch our Word of the Year livestream last week? We've captured some of the highlights of the event in our most recent article. ?

Some of our colleagues tell us which word they think should win #OxfordWOTY... mindfully ? Have you shared your winning choice yet?

Did you catch our Word of the Year livestream last week? We've captured some of the highlights of the event in our most recent article. ?