Merriam-Webster declares ‘polarization’ as the word of the year for 2024

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Merriam-Webster has named “polarization” as its word of the year for 2024, reflecting the division into opposing extremes in American society. The usage of the word increased throughout the year, especially in relation to politics and the presidential election. Other politically charged terms like “democracy” also made the list, reflecting a desire to understand and protect these concepts. Additionally, words like “pander,” “weird,” and “cognitive” saw increased searches due to various events and statements related to politics. Internet culture terminology and words related to current events also made an appearance on the list. The choice of “polarization” as the word of the year follows similar announcements from other dictionaries like Oxford University Press and Collins Dictionary, highlighting different linguistic trends and cultural influences.

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