With each generation possessing its own unique vernacular, new words tend to be born and become almost indispensable for articulating a certain feeling or specific situations as society transforms and opens itself up to different cultures and influences. Ever-expanding by nature, the changes in how we communicate is evident in the new terms officially added to dictionaries. And as the tradition dictates, each year, Oxford University Press (OUP) annually selects the “Word of the Year,” a chosen term that serves as a linguistic snapshot reflecting “the mood, ethos, or preoccupations” of the past 12 months.
For the 2023 edition, the century-old publisher shortlisted eight words for the public to vote on, before OUP’s own experts gave their opinion on the most popular choices. The results, which were announced on Monday, crowned “Rizz” as this year’s victor.
“Rizz was chosen by the language experts at OUP as an interesting example of how language can be formed, shaped, and shared within communities, before being picked up more widely,” OUP said in a release. “It speaks to how younger generations create spaces— online or in person — where they own and define the language they use,” it added.
A contraction of “charisma,” rizz refers to one’s ability to attract, seduce, and flirt with someone. The word is particularly used amongst Gen Zs, who have shed light on its definition in a myriad of ways be it through TikToks, memes, or via witty Tweets.
@rizzhighlights #rizz #fyp #rizzhighlights ♬ original sound – RIZZ 👑
Amongst the other contenders, “prompt”— a word that refers to the instructions given to AI tools to generate text or content— stood as another one of the finalists alongside “situationship”— a term that designates a romantic relationship that is unofficial or non-committal. “Swiftie,” which is the self-designated name of the fanbase of American pop singer Taylor Swift was also among the words beaten out by rizz.
