Word‑of‑the‑Year 2023 – the “Single‑Use” Craze Hits the Charts
It’s the kind of language evolution that feels like your tongue is getting a makeover. Collins Dictionary has named the buzzword single‑use the word of the year, sparking a laugh‑and‑groan montage of climate‑conscience across the globe.
Why “Single‑Use” Is the Hot Ticket
- The term has quadrupled in popularity since 2013 when folks started noticing plastic trashes swimming in the ocean like a silent, uninvited party.
- It’s shorthand for everything that’s engineered for one‑off convenience and left behind to do a not‑so‑fabulous job on our planet.
- It sits happily alongside climate‑watcher plogging (jog‑and‑pick‑up), vegan chic, and a host of survivor‑vocabulary that’s handy for every hectic day.
Other Stand‑Out Words This Year
Collins didn’t just stop at the eco‑verse. They handed the spotlight to words that glued politics, sports, and social movements into the lexicon:
- MeToo – The movement that leans the spotlight on sexual harassment, proving that saying your name counts.
- Whitewash – When a white actor steps into a role meant for an ethnic minority—no great idea, but there’s a word for it.
- Gammon – A slang punch‑line for the most reactionary pro‑Brexit crowd: think white, male, middle‑aged. In the same breath as “backstop” which describes what’s kept in hand if the first plan goes on holiday.
- VAR – Fandom for football fans who believe that a video goalie can save them from a dastardly own‑goal horror.
- Floss – The dance that has you mouthing your pearls of wisdom in the Great Hall of Zooms.
From Politics to Playgrounds
“It’s clear from this year’s words of the year list that changes to our language are dictated as much by public concern as they are by sport, politics, and playground fads,” said Helen Newstead, Collins’s head of language content.
Newstead’s words echo the fact that our everyday chatter is a subtle hostage to the world’s stirrings—whether it’s climate anxiety, tough questions about equity, or just the need to go viral with that floss routine.
Keeping the Words Fresh
These words will hang out in the online edition and sneak into the next printed volume—so if you’re ever looking for a fresh, flirtty term for your next article or dinner conversation, you’ve got a new slew at your disposal.
