The nonsensical phrase “6-7” has been named the most overused and misused word of 2025, according to Lake Superior State University’s 50th annual Banished Words List.

The tongue-in-cheek list, compiled from around 1,400 submissions from across the United States and several countries including Uzbekistan, Brazil and Japan, highlights words and phrases deemed “cooked” or overhyped.

“6-7,” which gained popularity on social media this year, especially among Gen Z, is considered largely meaningless. Dictionary.com even selected it as its 2025 word of the year. Each number can be read as “six, seven,” or combined as 67, sometimes sparking reactions at college basketball games.

Other words on the top 10 include “demure,” “incentivize,” “perfect,” “gift/gifted,” “my bad” and “reach out,” with some having appeared on past lists.

David Travis, president of Lake Superior State University, said the list reflects changing trends and the influence of social media, noting that words shared via texting or posts can easily be misunderstood without tone or context.

While some terms like “my bad” have lasting appeal, Travis predicted “6-7” will likely fade next year. Gen Z users, however, continue to embrace it as a playful, if puzzling, expression.