Oxford reveals the 'Word of the Year' for 2023
Oxford University Press has just announced its 'Word of the Year' for 2023 - and Gen Z will love it...
You might know it as someone who's a "real Casanova", "quite the charmer", or most recently someone with "game", but today it is called, 'Rizz'.
This year's Oxford University Press 'Word of the Year' is Rizz; internet slang for romantic appeal or charm.
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According to Oxford University Press [OUP], which publishes the Oxford English Dictionary [OED], it is defined as "style, charm, attractiveness, and the ability to attract a romantic or sexual partner".
The term is considered a shortened form of the word "charisma".
More here:
Oxford Dictionary’s word of the year is RIZZ. Here’s what it means. I sounded out of touch and, well, RIZZLESS as I explained what rizz means. pic.twitter.com/9OtmIARb0u
— Roop Raj (@rooprajfox2) December 5, 2023
Young people mostly use it on the internet or even in their daily lives.
According to BBC News, Rizz was one of eight shortlisted words "all chosen to reflect the mood, ethos or preoccupations of 2023".
‘Rizz’ was named Oxford's word of the year. Other words that came close include:
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) December 4, 2023
• prompt
• situationship
• Swiftie
• beige flag
• de-influencing
• heat dome
• parasocial pic.twitter.com/RgGMfunybz
The final decision was made after the list was narrowed down by a public vote.
Here are the other shortlisted words and what they mean:
Beige flag (n.): a character trait that indicates that a partner or potential partner is boring or lacks originality; (also) a trait or habit, esp. of a partner or potential partner, viewed as extremely characteristic, but not distinctly good or bad [draft definition]
Situationship (n.): a romantic or sexual relationship that is not considered to be formal or established.
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Parasocial (adj.): designating a relationship characterized by the one-sided, unreciprocated sense of intimacy felt by a viewer, fan, or follower for a well-known or prominent figure (typically a media celebrity), in which the follower or fan comes to feel (falsely) that they know the celebrity as a friend.
Heat dome (n.): a persistent high-pressure weather system over a particular geographic area, which traps a mass of hot air below it [draft definition]
Swiftie (n.): an enthusiastic fan of the singer Taylor Swift [draft definition]
Prompt (n.): an instruction given to an artificial intelligence program, algorithm, etc., which determines or influences the content it generates [draft definition]
De-influencing (n.): the practice of discouraging people from buying particular products, or of encouraging people to reduce their consumption of material goods, esp. via social media [draft definition]
Source: BBC News
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