It's a sentiment many share, and now it's been officially recognised: Oxford Dictionaries has named “brain rot” as its word of the year.

Oxford University Press announced on Monday that the phrase “brain rot” gained significant attention in 2024, with its usage increasing by 230% compared to the previous year, reports AP.

According to Oxford, “brain rot” refers to “the supposed decline of an individual’s mental or intellectual condition, particularly due to excessive consumption of content (now especially online) that is deemed trivial or unchallenging.”‘

Goblin Mode’: What does Oxford Dictionaries’ word of the year mean?

The selection of the word of the year aims to highlight “a word or phrase that encapsulates a defining theme of the past 12 months.”

The decision to choose “brain rot” came from a combination of public voting and analysis by Oxford lexicographers. It outpaced five other contenders: demure, slop, dynamic pricing, romantasy, and lore.

Although it may feel like a modern concept, the term “brain rot” was first used by Henry David Thoreau in his 1854 book, Walden, which celebrated nature, the report said.

Casper Grathwohl, President of Oxford Languages, noted that, in its contemporary sense, “’brain rot’ addresses one of the perceived risks of digital life and how we choose to spend our leisure time.”

“It represents an important continuation of the cultural discussion surrounding humanity and technology. It’s not surprising that so many people embraced the term, making it our choice for this year,” he stated.

Last year, the Oxford word of the year was “rizz,” a variation on charisma used to describe someone’s skill in attracting or seducing others.

In comparison, Collins Dictionary chose “brat” as its 2024 word of the year — a nod to the album title that epitomised the summer’s carefree spirit.