‘Selfie’ Is Named Word Of The Year By Oxford Dictionary
Britain’s Oxford University Press has named “selfie” as the word of the year for 2013.
Every year, Oxford Dictionary picks a word of the year, with different words being applied to the U.K and the U.S. “Selfie,” however, fit the bill for both this time.
Over the past year, the usage for the word selfie has grown tremendously, and become mainstream. It’s no longer merely a part of Twitter or Instagram, and it’s certainly become a part of the common English language. And being that the word of the year seeks to capture the current mood of the times, selfie definitely qualified.
According to Oxford’s blog, the final decision was unanimous. “This is a little unusual. Normally there will be some good-natured debate as one person might champion their particular choice over someone else’s,” the blog reads. “But this time, everyone seemed to be in agreement almost from the start.”
The blog also discusses the rise in usage of the word, which appeared as early as 2002, but didn’t see heavy progression until 2012.
Other words on the shortlist included bitcoin, binge-watch, and twerk.
