'Brain rot,' 'Manifest,' hailed 2024 Word of The Year by leading dictionaries

Leading dictionaries worldwide, including Oxford, Cambridge, and Collins have named their 2024 Word of The Year.

The words are not just a reflection of linguistic trends, but also a testament to the profound influence of social media on our language and culture.

Brain rot for Oxford Dictionary

The word "brain rot" emerged as Oxford Dictionary's 2024 Word of The Year.

According to the dictionary published by the prestigious Oxford University Press, brain rot "gained new prominence" in 2024 as a word used to describe "concerns about the impact of consuming excessive amounts of low-quality online content, especially on social media."

Between 2023 and 2024, the usage frequency of "brain rot" increased by a whopping 230%, Oxford Dictionary said. 

It defines brain rot as "something characterized as likely to lead to such deterioration."

Manifest for Cambridge Dictionary

Cambridge Dictionary meanwhile named "manifest" as its 2024 Word of The Year after the word was looked up on their website some 130,000 times. 

It is "one of the most-viewed words of 2024," Cambridge said. 

"Mentions of it gained traction during the pandemic and have grown in the years since, especially on TikTok and other social media, where millions of posts and videos used the hashtag #manifest," the Cambridge Dictionary said.

Cambridge Dictionary defines manifest as a method used "for visualization and affirmation to help you imagine achieving something you want, in the belief that doing so will make it more likely to happen."

Earlier, Collins Dictionary named Brat as its 2024 Word of the Year. 

Pop star Charli XCX released her sixth album, dubbed "Brat," along withe a title track, which the UK-based dictionary referenced in explaining their choice for the word of the year.

"More than a hugely successful album, 'brat' is a cultural phenomenon that has resonated with people globally, and 'brat summer' established itself as an aesthetic and a way of life," the UK-based dictionary said.

Collins Dictionary defines brat as "a child who is ill-mannered or unruly: used contemptuously or playfully."

Dictionary.com meanwhile looked at social media, especially TikTok, for choosing "demure" as its Word of the Year.  

The online dictionary attributed the rising use of the word to TikTok user Jool Lebron, who popularized the phrase "very demure, very mindful" in a series of videos posted on the platform in early August.

Dictionary.com defines demure as "characterized by shyness and modesty; reserved."

— LA, GMA Integrated News