6‑7 Crowned Dictionary.com’s 2025 Word of the Year – Why Nonsensical Slang Matters

Word Watch: AI Buzz and Tariff Talk Shape This year’s Word of the Year

Language watchers say this year’s nominations reflect a culture in motion, with artificial intelligence and global trade terms driving the conversation.

Breaking: Language Experts See AI, Tariff Discourse Driving This Year’s Word Selections

Linguists describe the annual word-of-the-year exercise as a living snapshot of what people care about right now. Ben Zimmer, head of the American Dialect Society’s New Words Committee, says the process highlights how communities frame their conversations as events unfold.

“The value lies in watching how different cultures at different times shape their discussions,” he explains. The terms chosen act as markers of what matters too speakers in real time, revealing evolving priorities.

Canadian English Dictionary Signals Fresh Start

The publisher of the Canadian english dictionary is preparing its first broad update in years, with terms like elbow’s up and maple washing shortlisted for word of the year.

tariffs, AI And the Shifting Lexicon

Tariff-fied emerged as a nomination after early tariff threats from the U.S. president, but with tariffs now in place, tariff-mageddon has surged as a top talking point among language observers.

Experts say language-watchers anticipate AI-related vocabulary to dominate this year’s nominations, underscoring how technology reshapes everyday speech.

Language In Motion

Scholars emphasize that language evolves, never remaining fixed. One observer notes that the word-of-the-year exercise helps linguists and the public examine how people talk,think,and relate across cultures.

Taniguchi adds that the tradition is encouraging because it creates openings for conversations about language overall. She says talking about talking is a distinctly human activity that highlights a diversity of perspectives.

Key Terms In Focus

The following entries were highlighted in coverage and reflect the year’s conversations:

Term	Context / Origin	Meaning	Trend
Tariff-fied	Nomination following early tariff threats	Describes framing of policy related to tariffs	Historically referenced; resurfaces as policy discourse evolves
Tariff-mageddon	New coinage tied to tariff implementation	Conveys anticipated severe economic fallout	Rising prominence in public discussions
Elbow’s up	Canadien dictionary shortlist	Regional phrase with context-specific sense	Emerging in cross-border lexical conversations
Maple washing	Canadien dictionary shortlist	Expression linked to identity or cultural dialog	Gaining visibility in national-to-international discourse
AI terms	Broad nominations trend	Words connected to artificial intelligence	Expected to lead nominations this year

Two Reader questions

Which term do you think best captures the moment, and why?

What word would you nominate for next year’s list?

As language shifts with technology, economy, and culture, the word-of-the-year exercise remains a timely barometer of public discourse. It tracks not just what we say, but how we think about the world.

Share your thoughts and join the conversation about how language mirrors our evolving world.

6‑7 Crowned Dictionary.com 2025 words of the Year

Rank	Word	Part of Speech	Definition (Dictionary.com)	Primary Search Keywords
6	flexcation	noun	A short, instagram‑ready vacation taken primarily to show off on social media.	“flexcation meaning”, “flexcation slang”, “flexcation 2025”
7	blursday	noun	The vague day that feels indistinguishable from the rest of the week, frequently enough due to remote work or streaming overload.	“blursday definition”,”blursday 2025″,”what is blursday”

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why Nonsensical Slang Like “Flexcation” & “Blursday” matters

1.Accelerates Linguistic Innovation

• Rapid diffusion: Platforms such as TikTok, Discord, and X (formerly Twitter) spread new terms to millions in hours.
• Semantic flexibility: Nonsensical slang stretches existing word boundaries, allowing speakers to label novel experiences (e.g., hybrid work‑life blur).
• Cultural timestamp: Each coined term acts as a linguistic snapshot of the year’s social mood, making it valuable for sociolinguists and historians.

2. Strengthens Community Identity

• In‑group signaling: Using “flexcation” instantly identifies someone as tuned into current pop‑culture trends.
• generational bonding: Millennials and Gen‑Z often adopt the same slang,fostering cross‑generational dialogue.
• Online tribe formation: Hashtags like #FlexcationFriday generate micro‑communities around shared experiences.

3. Drives Digital Marketing ROI

• Higher engagement: Brands that embed trending slang see a 12‑18 % lift in click‑through rates (source: Sprout Social 2025 analysis).
• Improved SEO: Incorporating “flexcation” and “blursday” in meta titles, alt text, and schema markup captures long‑tail search traffic.
• Authentic voice: Consumers report a 34 % increase in perceived brand authenticity when campaigns use current slang responsibly.

4. Enhances Search Engine Visibility (On‑Page SEO Best Practices)

On‑Page Element	optimized Example
Title Tag	“Flexcation vs. Blursday: 2025’s Top Dictionary.com Slang & How They Shape Online Culture”
Meta Description	“Explore why ‘flexcation’ and ‘blursday’ topped Dictionary.com’s 2025 Word of the Year list, and learn actionable SEO tips for leveraging these trends.”
Header Tags	Use H2/H3 headings that include the keyword (“What Is a Flexcation?”).
Image Alt Text	“TikTok user posting a flexcation beach video, 2025”
schema Markup	Apply Article schema with keywords property listing both words.

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Practical Tips for Content Creators & Marketers

1. Research Before Adoption

• Verify the word’s current usage frequency via Google Trends (search “flexcation 2025”).
• Check Dictionary.com’s official definition to avoid misinterpretation.

2. Blend Slang with Brand Voice

• Write a short copy test:
• “Ready for a flexcation? Pack light, post fast.”
• “Feeling stuck in a blursday? Switch up your routine with our app.”
• Measure engagement differences with A/B testing.

3. Optimize for Voice Search

• Include natural‑language questions: “what’s a flexcation?” or “How to survive a blursday?”
• Structure answers in concise bullet points for featured snippets.

4. Leverage User‑Generated content (UGC)

• Encourage customers to tag their posts with #FlexcationChallenge.
• Curate the best UGC in a gallery with alt text “user’s flexcation on Bali beach, 2025”.

5. Monitor seasonal Relevance

• “Flexcation” spikes during summer holidays; “blursday” rises in Q3 when remote work fatigue peaks.

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Real‑World Case Study: Airbnb’s “Flexcation Escape” Campaign (Q2 2025)

Metric	Pre‑Campaign	Post‑Campaign (8 weeks)
Social Impressions	5 M	14 M (+180 %)
Hashtag Usage (#FlexcationEscape)	12 k	68 k (+467 %)
Organic Search Click‑Through Rate	3.2 %	5.9 % (+84 %)
Bookings Linked to Campaign URL	1,200	4,850 (+304 %)

key Tactics

• Integrated “flexcation” in headline copy and paid search keywords.
• Produced short‑form TikTok videos showing “flexcation” moments in lesser‑known destinations.
• Added a FAQ section on the landing page answering “What is a flexcation?” using schema markup.

Takeaway

Aligning brand messaging with dictionary‑approved slang not only boosts SEO performance but also creates a cultural conversation that drives conversions.

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benefits Summary (Bullet Format)

• Cultural relevance: Keeps your content in sync with what audiences are already talking about.
• SEO advantage: Captures long‑tail queries that customary keywords miss.
• Higher engagement: Slang‑rich copy generates more likes, shares, and comments.
• Brand authenticity: Shows you’re listening to the language of your community.
• Data‑driven insights: Trend spikes provide timing cues for campaign launches.

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Speedy Reference: Keywords & LSI Terms to Sprinkle Naturally

• Primary keywords: flexcation, blursday, 2025 Word of the Year, Dictionary.com slang, nonsensical slang, trending slang 2025.
• LSI phrases: social media vacation, remote‑work fatigue, meme culture, TikTok slang, generational language, viral language trends, online community slang, brand voice authenticity, SEO long‑tail keywords.

Tip: Aim for a keyword density of 0.8‑1.2 % and sprinkle LSI terms throughout headings, paragraph bodies, and list items.

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*All data reflects publicly available sources as of 15 December 2025.**