Merriam-Webster chose «slop» as its 2025 word of the year, explaining that it means low-quality online content such as confusing instructional videos generated by artificial intelligence (AI), joke social media posts created by bots and books written by AI, according to CNN.
By choosing this word, Merriam-Webster joins other major dictionaries that have focused on technology-related language this year. Collins, Cambridge and Oxford, for example, have also chosen words related to digital culture and online habits — «vibe coding,» «parasocial» and «rage bait» — showing how technology keeps changing the way people communicate and discuss issues.
Moreover, The Economist has independently chosen its own word of the year, which coincidentally was «slope.»
Even though the term is associated with generative AI these days, in the 18th century, it meant soft mud; later, it referred to food waste and then to anything worthless or badly made.
As a result, people often have mixed feelings about the word. Some find it annoying, while others use it as a joke, Merriam-Webster said.
Other words considered for word of the year were «gerrymander,» which relates to political debates over voting districts, and «touch grass,» a phrase that urges people to take a break from spending too much time online. Editors also discussed «performative,» a term often used for actions that seem fake or are done just for show, while «polarization» was picked as the word of the year by the dictionary last year.
Choosing the catchphrase or word of the year is a widespread tradition that helps identify verbal constructions that reflect the zeitgeist. In Japan, for instance, the phrase «work, work, work, work and work,» used by Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, has been selected as Japan’s catchphrase of the year, reflecting its substantial impact on public discussion in 2025.
