AI Named As The Word Of 2023 By Collins Dictionary: What Other Words Were Shortlisted?

In a surprising turn of events, "AI," an abbreviation for artificial intelligence, has been declared the most crucial word of the year by Collins Dictionary for 2023, despite "ChatGPT" being the most googled term of the year.

Alex Beecroft, the managing director of Collins, shed light on the rationale behind choosing "AI" as the Word of the Year. He noted that AI has seamlessly integrated itself into various facets of our daily existence, becoming as ubiquitous as email and streaming services. With its widespread use, it has garnered significant attention and conversation throughout the year.

Collins Dictionary's decision to bestow "AI" with this honor was not arbitrary. Their experts delved into the extensive Collins Corpus, a vast repository of more than 20 billion words culled from diverse sources like websites, newspapers, magazines, books, radio, TV, and everyday conversations. This dynamic library, constantly updated with new terminology, enables Collins Dictionary's editors to promptly identify emerging words and their meanings based on real-world usage.

Beecroft emphasized, "We are always intrigued by the trends we observe in the Collins Corpus. In 2023, there was no doubt that 'AI' was the word on everyone's lips."

While "AI" claimed the spotlight, the shortlist of noteworthy words recognized by Collins Dictionary showcased linguistic innovation. "Nepo baby," describing the offspring of famous individuals following in their parents' footsteps, saw extensive use in India, particularly concerning Bollywood filmmaker Karan Johar.

Another attention-worthy word was "greedflation," signifying the practice of companies profiting while individuals grapple with soaring living costs. "Ulez" denoted the ultra-low emission zone in London, where drivers face penalties for operating highly polluting vehicles.

Even social media jargon made its mark on the list, with terms like "deinfluencing" and "de-influencing" employed when individuals advise their followers against particular product choices.

The world of sports contributed to the lexicon with "Bazball," referring to Brendon McCullum's coaching philosophy in cricket. McCullum, renowned as "Baz," championed a style emphasizing relaxation, aggression, and positivity.

Collins Dictionary's annual selection of the Word of the Year, including the shortlisted words, offers a fascinating window into the evolving nature of language, mirroring shifts in the global landscape and the ideas that resonate most with society.

Shortlisted Words Reflecting the Language of 2023

In addition to "AI," Collins Dictionary's focus on "digital culture" in 2023 led to the shortlisting of "de-influencing," defined as influencers using their online presence to discourage followers from specific commercial products or lifestyle choices.

Among the other notable words on the shortlist, two had financial connotations. "Debanking" was one such term, defined as the act of depriving individuals of banking facilities.

Another contender was "greedflation," a compound word combining "greed" and "inflation." It characterized the manipulation of prices, ostensibly due to inflation, to artificially elevate corporate profits.

Notably, "Bazball," a term originating from cricket's evolution, earned its place in the Collins Dictionary, recognized as a noun describing a style of Test cricket characterized by highly aggressive batting tactics. This addition reflects the impact of Brendon McCullum's coaching philosophy on the sport, known for its go-for-win-at-all-costs approach.