The Words of the Year 2022 by Collins Dictionary have been released, with the word taking the number one spot describing what it feels like to live through a pandemic, two recessions, and a war.
Permacrisis has been crowned the Word of the Year, and is defined as an extended period of instability and insecurity. The word has been used to describe the feeling of lurching from one disaster to another with no respite, including political instability, the war in Ukraine, climate change, and the cost-of-living crisis.
Six words on Collins’ list of 10 words of the year are new to the dictionary, including permacrisis. Managing director of Collins Learning, Alex Beecroft, aptly said that the word “sums up quite succinctly how truly awful 2022 has been for so many people”, reports MEN.
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Speaking about the list, Alex said: "Language can be a mirror to what is going on in society and the wider world, and this year has thrown up challenge after challenge." They added: "[The list can] reflect our ever-evolving language and the preoccupations of those who use it".
Here are the list of the top 10 words and phrases from 2022, and what they mean:
Vibe shift - a significant change in a prevailing cultural atmosphere or trend.
Sportswashing - the promotion of sporting events to distract attention from a controversial activity. This has mainly been used this year to describe the FIFA World Cup, being held in Qatar given the concerns around human rights and the welfare of migrant workers.
Quiet Quitting - the practice of doing no more work than one is contractually obliged to do. This usually involves never staying late in the office or taking on extra responsibilities without compensation in order to improve work/life balance.
Lawfare - the strategic use of legal proceedings to intimidate or hinder an opponent.
Carolean - relating to King Charles III of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. In the same way something associated with the late Queen could be described as Elizabethan, something associated with the new King would be described as Carolean.
Warm Bank - a heated building where people who cannot afford to heat their own homes can go. Like a food bank, but for warmth, 2022 has seen people retreating to places like libraries to keep warm and save money.
Splooting - the act of lying flat on your stomach with your legs stretched out.
Partygate - a political scandal over social gatherings held in defiance of public-health restrictions. Sue Gray's long awaited inquiry report was published in January 2022.
Kyiv - the capital of Ukraine, situated on the Dnieper River. The Russian invasion of Ukraine meant the UK quickly learnt the Ukrainian spelling and pronunciation of the city.
Permacrisis - extended period of instability and insecurity.
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