Collins’ word of the year: Fake news
‘Fake news’ – the term made famous by US President Donald Trump – has been adjudged the ‘word of the year’ by Collins dictionary after its lexicographers found it had a ‘ubiquitous presence’ over the last year.
Thelexicographers said usage of the term had increased by 365% since 2016. Trump may have popularised the term, but Collins believes its origins lie on US television, where it was used to describe “false, often sensational, information dissemi- nated under the guise of news reporting”.
It is one of the new entries to be included in the next print edition of the Collins dictionary, along with ‘Corbynmania’, used to describe the enthusiasm associated with Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn during the elections earlier this year.
“Much of this year’s list is definitely politically charged, but with a new president in the US andasnapelection in the UK, it is perhaps no surprise that politics continues to electrify the language,” said Collins’s head of language content, Helen Newstead.
Otherwordsrelatedtopolitics and current affairs in its list of the words of the year include “echo chamber”, defined as “an environment, especially on a social media site, in which any statement of opinion is likely to be greeted with approval because it will only be read or heardbypeoplewhoholdsimilar views”, Collins said.
Also in the list is “antifa”, whichemergedfollowingviolent clashes between anti-fascist protesters and the far right, particularly in the US.
Collins’ “new and notable words that reflect an ever-evolving language” include “gender- fluid”, defined as “not identifying exclusively with one gender rather than another”; “cuffing season”, defined as “the period of autumn and winter when single people are considered likely to seek settled relationships rather than engage in casual affairs”, and “fidget spinner”, the toy that is being twirled by children across the UK.
“Gigeconomy”,definedas“an economy in which there are few permanent employees and most jobs are assigned to temporary or freelance workers”, also makes the list, as does “Insta”, relating to social-media app Instagram.
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