Do you think 2024 was the year of brain rot? Well, Oxford believes so too. Folks, Oxford University Press has declared brain rot as their Word of the Year. This quirky word beat out some tough competitors and perfectly sums up our online habits. So, let’s see why it won, how Words of the Year are chosen, and who was giving brain rot a competition.

What does brain rot mean?

I know you know, but Oxford has defined brain rot as “the supposed deterioration of a person’s mental or intellectual state, especially viewed as the result of overconsumption of material (now particularly online content) considered to be trivial or unchallenging.” Remember the endless scrolling of Moye Moye reels or the Ganji Chudail memes? Combine that with the millions who fell into the Machhli Paani Me Gayi, Chapaak craze, and you’ve got a recipe for brain rot.

But it’s not a new term. Its first known use was back in 1854 by Henry David Thoreau in Walden, when he grumbled about people losing their intellectual spark. Fast forward to 2024, and the term now has a more modern vibe, mostly linked to Generation Alpha and the internet culture.

The word ‘brain rot’ reflects how many of us feel about our digital habits. It’s playful, relatable, and, let’s face it, a bit too real. In 2023 and 2024, its usage soared by 230 percent, fuelled by memes and viral videos. Oxford Languages chose ‘brain rot’ because it captures a cultural moment: our love-hate relationship with being glued to screens.

How is the Word of the Year chosen?

‘Brain rot’ wasn’t the only word that was relatable or overused in 2024. It had tough competitors like ‘demure’, ‘slop’, ‘dynamic pricing’, ‘romantasy’, and ‘lore’. In the end, ‘brain rot’ won because the word of the year is intended to be “a word or expression that reflects a defining theme from the past 12 months.”

Oxford University Press tracks millions of words used in books, articles, and social media to spot trends. Linguists and experts then create a shortlist, and the public votes for their favourite. This year, people loved ‘brain rot’ because it’s so relevant to modern life – and because, let’s admit it, we’ve all experienced it.

Oxford Languages President Casper Grathwohl said that, in its modern sense, “‘brain rot’ speaks to one of the perceived dangers of virtual life, and how we are using our free time.”

“It feels like a rightful next chapter in the cultural conversation about humanity and technology. It’s not surprising that so many voters embraced the term, endorsing it as our choice this year,” he added. 

The Word of the Year isn’t just a fun label; it shows us what’s capturing the world’s attention. ‘Brain rot’ reminds us to laugh at our digital habits and maybe even rethink how much time we spend staring at screens.

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