CNN —A word that has been used incessantly to describe the fraught state of American politics and society is Merriam-Webster’s 2024 word of year. “The online dictionary tells us which words are being looked up, but also in what volume. “And polarization is the term that has been used by everyone.”Other contenders for word of the year included “totality,” following an April solar eclipse that drew astronomical excitement, and “fortnight,” the primarily British word that’s also a Taylor Swift song. Merriam-Webster is one of the final few English-language dictionary platforms to release its annual word. Earlier in December, Oxford Dictionary announced that “brain rot” was its word of the year, while Cambridge Dictionary declared “manifest” its lead word for 2024.

---

Persons: ” Forbes, ” Merriam, Webster, ” Peter Sokolowski, ”, Taylor, “, Jools Lebron Organizations: CNN, Merriam, MSNBC, Associated Press, Oxford, Cambridge Locations: Merriam