Oxford Languages announces 2022 word of the year

The public has been asked to sum up 2022 in a word.

Oxford Dictionaries said Monday that goblin mode has been selected by online vote as its word of the year.

It defines the term as a type of behavior that is unapologetically self-indulgent, lazy, slovenly or greedy, typically in a way that rejects social norms or expectations. Goblin mode gained popularity on Twitter in 2009 as people around the world emerged uncertainly from a pandemic lockdown.

The year we have just experienced, goblin mode resonates with all of us who are feeling a little overwhelmed at this point, said Oxford Languages President Casper Grathwohl.

The word of the year is intended to reflect the ethos, mood, or preoccupations of the past twelve months. For the first time this year, the winning phrase was chosen by public vote, from three finalists selected by Oxford Languages lexicographers: goblin mode, metaverse and the hashtag IStandWith.

Goblin mode won 93% of the more than 340,000 votes, despite being relatively unknown offline.

The choice is more evidence of a world unsettled after years of Pandemic turmoil, and by the huge changes in behavior and politics brought by social media.

Last week, Merriam-Webster announced that it was offering gaslighting — psychological manipulation intended to make a person question the validity of their own thoughts.

In 2021 the Oxford word of the year was vax and Merriam-Webster was a vaccine.