The Christian Science Monitor

And the word of the year is ...

If you had to choose a word that captured the mood of the past year, what would it be? 

Several dictionaries have announced their picks for the Word of the Year 2018, and their selections provide a glimpse into the preoccupations of English-speakers.

Oxford Dictionaries chose as the WOTY. It occurred most frequently in the literal , perhaps in response to the poisoning of a former Russian intelligence officer and his daughter in March. But it also featured prominently in metaphorical phrases such as , a cultural ideal of manliness that valorizes it as aggressive, competitive, hypersexual, and violent; and , the poisonous atmosphere that can occur in workplaces when people perceive too much toxic masculinity in the air. 

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from The Christian Science Monitor

The Christian Science Monitor3 min read
Lithium Is Key To Green Technology. Where Will The US Source It?
As America moves from fossil fuels to renewable energy, it must increase its supplies of lithium, copper, nickel, rare earths, and cobalt. These minerals are key components in electric cars, solar panels, wind turbines, and other green technologies.
The Christian Science Monitor4 min readPolitical Ideologies
Young Poles Led A Political Revolution. Now They Need To Learn Patience.
Life in Poland is finally moving in the right direction, says Łukasz Dryżałowski. The Warsaw-based engineer-turned-filmmaker helped rally friends and strategize how and where to vote six months ago, in an election that saw 69% of Poles under 30 turn
The Christian Science Monitor6 min read
Behind The Verse: Six Monitor Poets Share Why They Write Poetry
One of the joys of poetry is that a verse can be whatever the reader needs it to be in that moment. But the birth of a poem can be just as personal for the poet. The Monitor reached out to six contributing poets on why they write, what inspires them,

Related Books & Audiobooks