Each year, the Merriam–Webster Dictionary releases its ‘Word of the Year’ and it’s usually reflective on what’s going on around the world. Last year’s, for example, was ‘pandemic’, and of course – the winning word seemed fitting. Now, its choice for 2021 has just been revealed: ‘vaccine’.
The word is thrown around a lot more these days due to the ongoing pandemic, and Merriam–Webster Dictionary describes it as “a possible return to the lives we led before the pandemic. But it was also at the center of debates about personal choice, political affiliation, professional regulations, school safety, healthcare inequality, and so much more.”
The winning word makes sense given the increased conversation around the vaccine. Interest in its definition has increased by 601% in comparison to 2020.
Other words that made the shortlist for this year’s selection were nomad, woke and meta.
Now in other culture news, find out why you can escape from reality at Papillon.
