“Brain rot,” a term capturing widespread anxiety about digital overconsumption, has been named Oxford’s word of the year for 2024, the university press announced Monday.
The expression saw a 230% surge in usage over the past year, reflecting growing concerns about the impact of constant online content consumption on mental faculties. Oxford defines the term as “the supposed deterioration of a person’s mental or intellectual state, especially viewed as the result of overconsumption of material considered to be trivial or unchallenging.”
“‘Brain rot’ speaks to one of the perceived dangers of virtual life, and how we are using our free time,” said Oxford Languages President Casper Grathwohl. “It feels like a rightful next chapter in the cultural conversation about humanity and technology.”
The phrase, which first appeared in Henry David Thoreau’s 1854 masterpiece “Walden,” emerged victorious through a combination of public voting and analysis by Oxford lexicographers. It prevailed over five other finalists: demure, slop, dynamic pricing, romantasy and lore.
The selection follows Oxford’s 2023 choice of “rizz,” a term for charisma or romantic appeal, while Collins Dictionary opted for “brat” as its 2024 word of the year, referencing a popular album title that became synonymous with carefree summer living.
AP
