Word first seen on Twitter in 2009 gained popularity in 2022 as people came out of the pandemic lockdowns
Over 3,40,000 English speakers from around the globe have voted to choose the word “Goblin mode” as the Oxford Dictionaries name of the year. The term, according to a report by the Associated Press on Monday, November 5, refers to “a type of behaviour which is unapologetically self-indulgent, lazy, slovenly, or greedy, typically in a way that rejects social norms or expectations”.
“Goblin mode” is amongst the first to be chosen after lexicographers from Oxford University Press gave people three options of words, phrases, or hashtags to choose from. “Given the year we’ve just experienced, ‘goblin mode’ resonates with all of us who are feeling a little overwhelmed at this point,” said President Casper Grathwohl, president of Oxford languages.
“Goblin mode”, the report states, first appeared on Twitter in 2009. It then gained popularity in 2020 after people across the world came out of the lockdown with uncertainty. The report adds, the word of the year reflects “the ethos, mood, or preoccupations of the past twelve months”. This was the first time that a word was chosen by a public vote. The three finalists included, metaverse and the hashtag IStandWith, aside from goblin mode.
Another word of the year, was also announced last week by Merriam-Webster called “gaslighting”. The term refers to “psychological manipulation intended to make a person question the validity of their own thoughts”, the report said. Last year Merriam-Webster had named “vaccine” and Oxford named “vax” as the words of the year.
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