The 2024 U.S. presidential election has come to an end, and the results have left the country in a state of shock, with extreme reactions from both sides. It’s no surprise then that Merriam-Webster has chosen “polarization” as its word of the year for 2024.
In an exclusive interview with The Associated Press, Merriam-Webster’s editor at large, Peter Sokolowski, explained that “polarization” means division, but a very specific kind. It refers to the tendency towards extremes rather than towards the center. This definition perfectly encapsulates the current state of the nation, where people are deeply divided on political, social, and cultural issues.
The 2024 election was one of the most polarizing in history, with many voters feeling that the opposing candidate was a threat to the very existence of the nation. According to a survey by AP VoteCast, a staggering 8 in 10 Kamala Harris voters were concerned about Donald Trump’s extreme views, while 7 in 10 Trump voters felt the same about Harris’ views. This stark contrast in opinions highlights the deep polarization that exists in the country.
The Merriam-Webster entry for “polarization” reflects both scientific and metaphorical definitions, and it is most commonly used to describe strong disagreements between opposing groups or factions. As a trusted source for word meanings, Merriam-Webster chooses its word of the year based on data, tracking a rise in search and usage. This year’s pick is a reflection of the current state of the nation, where reaching a consensus on what is real and what is not has become a challenge.
In a world of fake news and alternative facts, Sokolowski emphasizes the importance of the dictionary as a neutral and objective arbiter of meaning for everyone. The dictionary acts as a backstop for meaning in a time where words can be manipulated and used to spread false information. It’s interesting to note that “polarization” has been in use since the early 1800s, making it a relatively young word in the English language. It is primarily used in the U.S. to describe race relations, politics, and ideology.
While “polarization” may have political connotations, it extends beyond that to highlight divisions in other aspects of society such as pop culture, technology, and other industries. It has become a buzzword to describe fresh cracks and deep rifts in various areas of life.
Interestingly, despite its negative connotations, “polarization” is a word that people of all political beliefs tend to use. Sokolowski points out that it is frequently used by commentators on Fox News, MSNBC, and CNN, showing that it is a word that both sides can agree on, in an ironic twist.
Apart from “polarization,” Merriam-Webster’s top 10 words of 2024 also include “demure,” “fortnight,” “totality,” “resonate,” “allision,” “weird,” “cognitive,” “pander,” and “democracy.” These words have all seen a spike in usage and searches, reflecting the current cultural and political climate.
The word “demure” gained popularity due to TikToker Jools Lebron’s viral video about her workday makeup routine, where she described it as “very demure, very mindful.” This led to a surge in searches for the word, which means reserved or modest.
“Fortnight” made its way into the top 10 due to Taylor Swift’s song “Fortnight,” featuring rapper Post Malone. The word, which means two weeks, saw a rise in searches thanks to the song’s popularity.
The solar eclipse in April inspired awe and much travel, with millions of people witnessing the rare phenomenon. This event also led to a surge in searches for “totality,” a word that refers to a sum or aggregate amount.
“Resonate,” a word that means to affect or appeal to someone in a personal or emotional way, saw a rise in usage in AI-generated texts, adding gravitas to the writing. However, Sokolowski points out that this also exposes the use of artificial intelligence, making it sound robotic.
“Allision,” a word that is often confused with “collision,” saw a surge in searches when a ship crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore in March. Sokolowski explains that
