Merriam-Webster dictionary has declared its 2023 word of the year is… ‘authentic.’
The dictionary says the word, ‘authentic’ often has a high-volume look up but saw a substantial increase in 2023 with AI, celebrity culture, identity and social media all playing a part.
A synonym of ‘real’ or ‘actual’, Merriam-Webster said ‘authentic’ is a word that is hard to define.
“Authentic is often connected to identity, whether national or personal: words frequently modified by authentic include cuisine and dish, but also self and voice. Celebrities like singers Lainey Wilson, Sam Smith, and especially Taylor Swift all made headlines in 2023 with statements about seeking their “authentic voice” and “authentic self.” Headlines like Three Ways To Tap Into Taylor Swift’s Authenticity And Build An Eras-Like Workplace associate this quality with pop-culture superpower.”
Merriam-Webster said other words that stuck out this year were:
Rizz, Deepfake, Coronation, Dystopian, EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony), X, Implode, Doppleganger, Covenant, Indict, Elemental, Kibbutz and Deadname
