The 2024 U.S. presidential election had a profound impact on the nation, sparking intense reactions across the country and echoing globally. The outcomes of the election, whether seen as a cause for alarm or celebration, left people feeling divided. This deep division in the country makes it no surprise that Merriam-Webster’s word of the year for 2024 is “polarization.”
According to Peter Sokolowski, Merriam-Webster's editor at large, “Polarization means division, but it’s a very specific kind of division.” He elaborated that the term reflects a tendency toward extremes rather than a balanced or middle ground. This kind of division was felt deeply by voters during the election, with many seeing the opposing candidate as an existential threat to the nation's future. A survey by AP VoteCast, which polled over 120,000 voters, revealed that 8 out of 10 people who voted for Kamala Harris felt that Donald Trump's views were too extreme, while 7 out of 10 Trump voters expressed the same concern about Harris. This feeling of an “us vs. them” mentality paints a clear picture of the country's political landscape—intensely polarized and deeply divided.
The term "polarization" itself carries weight beyond the political sphere. Merriam-Webster's definition spans both scientific and metaphorical uses. It is often used to describe the strong disagreements between opposing groups or factions, not just in politics but across various aspects of society. Merriam-Webster tracks how often words are searched and used, and based on these metrics, it chose “polarization” due to the sharp rise in interest over the past year. The dictionary itself receives over 100 million pageviews every month, and the surge in the search for "polarization" underscores the nation's growing awareness of and concern over this divide.
For context, last year’s word of the year was "authentic," a choice that reflected a societal struggle over what’s real and genuine, especially in a time rife with misinformation. The 2024 pick, "polarization," aligns with this sense of disconnection, but highlights an even sharper divergence between groups and ideologies. It signals the challenge America faces in finding common ground on issues that affect everyone. In today’s age of “fake news” and "alternative facts," Merriam-Webster serves as a trusted neutral authority on the meaning of words. This is crucial in a time when the clarity of language is more important than ever, especially when society grapples with competing versions of the truth.
Interestingly, the word “polarization” has roots dating back to the early 1800s. It’s a relatively young word in the grand timeline of the English language, and yet it’s taken on immense significance in the last two decades. It has become synonymous with divisiveness in American society, particularly when discussing race relations, politics, and ideology. Sokolowski noted that the term "polarized" intensifies the idea of division, making it not just about disagreement but a sharp, almost unbridgeable gap between two extremes.
Beyond politics, the word "polarization" also extends into pop culture and other industries, reflecting the growing fragmentation of society. Take, for example, the uproar over Taylor Swift's use of a private jet. It became a polarizing issue, with people either defending or criticizing the singer’s environmental choices. Similarly, the public feud between rappers Kendrick Lamar and Drake sparked fierce debates, with fans taking sides. Even more trivial matters, such as who counts as a "nepo baby" (the term used to describe celebrities born into privilege) or the viral memes mocking Australian breakdancer Rachael "Raygun" Gunn's performance, have become polarizing topics.
The paradox of polarization is that, despite the strong divisions it reflects, there’s one thing that unites almost everyone: the recognition of it. Sokolowski pointed out that the word “polarization” is used across the political spectrum, with commentators from Fox News to MSNBC and CNN discussing it. This common usage might seem ironic, considering the deep divides it describes, but it’s also an indication that both sides of the political aisle acknowledge the reality of polarization. In a sense, it’s one of the few things that people from opposite ends of the spectrum can agree on.
In addition to “polarization,” Merriam-Webster’s list of the top 10 words for 2024 reveals a variety of interesting choices, some of which are reflections of the times we live in. For instance, the word “demure” made its way into the public lexicon after TikToker Jools Lebron’s makeup routine video went viral. Her description of her makeup as "very demure, very mindful" prompted millions of viewers to search the word. “Demure” means modest or reserved, and this sudden popularity of the term shows how culture can influence language in unexpected ways.
Another word that saw a spike in interest this year was “fortnight,” largely thanks to Taylor Swift’s collaboration with rapper Post Malone in the song "Fortnight." This word, which means a period of two weeks, gained attention as fans of the song sought to understand the reference. This demonstrates how music, even in this digital age, can still drive people to dictionaries and spark curiosity about language.
The word “totality” also rose to prominence in 2024 due to the solar eclipse in April. The path of totality, which spans from Mexico’s Pacific coast to eastern Canada, was a narrow strip where millions gathered to witness the moon completely block out the sun. "Totality" is commonly used to describe completeness or the whole of something, and in this case, it captured the awe and wonder felt by those experiencing the eclipse.
In a more ironic twist, the word “resonate” gained traction in 2024 as AI-generated texts used it frequently, sometimes to a fault. While “resonate” means to appeal to someone on a personal or emotional level, its overuse in AI writing made it stand out as a bit too artificial. Sokolowski remarked that this showed how AI could give itself away through its tendency to overuse certain phrases, betraying its robotic nature.
Another word on the list is “allision,” which saw a significant surge in searches after a ship collided with the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore. The term refers to an incident where a moving object strikes a stationary one, which differs from a “collision,” where both objects are in motion. The spike in interest highlights how specific terminology can catch the public’s attention when unusual events occur.
The word “weird” also experienced a rise in searches after Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz referred to Republican leaders as “weird” during a news broadcast. Though often misspelled, this term resonated with the public due to its usage in a national political context, making it stand out as one of the more intriguing words of 2024.
In the political realm, “cognitive” became a focal point as commentators discussed the mental acuity of both President Biden and former President Trump. Whether it was regarding Biden’s debate performance or Trump’s age, “cognitive” was used to refer to mental processes like thinking, reasoning, and remembering, showcasing how language can intersect with political discourse.
The word “pander” also gained traction, especially in political commentary. It’s a term used to describe when someone says or does something to please a particular group, even if it’s not the most reasonable or ethical choice. The word was widely used to describe various politicians’ attempts to appeal to certain demographics, from Harris’s outreach to young voters to Trump’s efforts with working-class Americans.
Lastly, “democracy,” which had been Merriam-Webster’s first word of the year in 2003, remains one of the most frequently looked-up words. In a time when democratic values are under intense scrutiny, the fact that people continue to look up “democracy” shows that Americans are still deeply invested in understanding the principles that govern their nation. Sokolowski noted the poignancy of this, suggesting that people’s curiosity about democracy reflects a genuine desire to engage with the core ideals of the nation.
In summary, the 2024 words of the year reflect a society that is grappling with significant divisions, yet still strives to understand and find meaning in the world around them. Whether it's through the lens of politics, culture, or language itself, these words capture the spirit of a year defined by both discord and curiosity.
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