‘Surreal’ called word of the year

PITTSBURGH — If you found yourself uttering “surreal” at some of the events of 2016, you were not alone.

Reflecting a tumultuous, emotional year, Merriam-Webster said Monday “surreal” is the Word of the Year for 2016 after it was looked up by users of its online dictionary more often, and for longer periods of time, than in previous years.

The reason, according to Merriam-Webster’s Editor-AtLarge Peter Sokolowski in an online video announcing the pick, was because it “is one people come back to over and over again in response to different events. And it gives us a look into 2016 according to what sent people to the dictionary.”

Look-ups of the adjective, which Merriam-Webster defines as “marked by the intense irrational reality of a dream,” had three major spikes this year: In March, after coverage of the Brussels terrorist attack; in July after the coup attempt in Turkey and terrorist attack in Nice; and then the largest spike following the U.S. elections in November.

Selection of the word allowed Merriam-Webster to avoid having to choose “fascism,” which spiked throughout the year following the Brexit vote in England, the rise of right-wing or populist candidates in several European nations, and with coverage of Donald Trump’s campaign.

At one point at the end of November, Merriam-Webster said “fascism” was the most searched word and encouraged people to look up something else.

Other words the U.S.-based dictionary said were words that sent people looking for definitions in higher numbers:

“Revenant,” which spiked in early 2016 when Leonardo DiCaprio won an Oscar for the movie of the same name.

“Icon,” which spiked in April after musician Prince died.