In 2022, the Oxford Word of the Year was 'goblin mode'. Goblin mode is a slang term that refers to self-indulgent, sluggish, or greedy behavior and is is frequently used in the terms "in goblin mode" and "to go goblin mode." Although goblin mode was initially observed on Twitter in 2009, it spread over social media in February 2022. When COVID-19 lockdown rules loosened and people began leaving their homes more frequently, the phrase seemed a useful way to represent the general attitude of those who rebelled against the notion of going back to their pre-pandemic lives, or against unrealistic beauty standards and unsustainable lifestyles promoted on social media.
Unprecedented times
In 2021, the world of the year was 'vax', following the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent vaccination rollouts around the world. The word was particularly utilized towards the end of 2021 as 'vax' and many of its derivatives became more commonly used in everyday communication. Overall, 2020 was titled an 'unprecedented year' by Oxford Languages, so no specific one word was chosen. Additionally, 2015's word of the year was not actually a word, but the very popular 'Face with Tears of Joy' emoji.
Vast differences between the U.S. and the UK
Picking a Word of the Year is a popular year-end practice among publishers, although choices may vary between vary greatly. UK-based Oxford University Press and U.S.-based Merriam-Webster concluded 2022 with two greatly different words. Whilst both relative to the events of 2022 and the past few years overall, 'gaslighting' was Merriam-Webster's Word of the Year.
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Oxford University Press. (December 5, 2022). Oxford University Press' Word of the Year from 2004 to 2022 [Graph]. In ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Retrieved July 30, 2026, from /statistics/1350802/oxford-word-of-the-year/
Oxford University Press. "Oxford University Press' Word of the Year from 2004 to 2022." Chart. December 5, 2022. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Accessed July 30, 2026. /statistics/1350802/oxford-word-of-the-year/
Oxford University Press. (2022). Oxford University Press' Word of the Year from 2004 to 2022. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc.. Accessed: July 30, 2026. /statistics/1350802/oxford-word-of-the-year/
Oxford University Press. "Oxford University Press' Word of The Year from 2004 to 2022." ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc., 5 Dec 2022, /statistics/1350802/oxford-word-of-the-year/
Oxford University Press, Oxford University Press' Word of the Year from 2004 to 2022 ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, /statistics/1350802/oxford-word-of-the-year/ (last visited July 30, 2026)
Oxford University Press' Word of the Year from 2004 to 2022 [Graph], Oxford University Press, December 5, 2022. [Online]. Available: /statistics/1350802/oxford-word-of-the-year/
