Slop, rage bait, aura farming? Those may sound like terms from a different universe, but they’re actually some of the terms that have defined our linguistic landscape in 2025. Each year, renowned dictionaries around the globe select a word or phrase that they believe encapsulates the past year, based on factors like search history and usage frequency. Now, you can choose your own word of the year for 2025.

Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Year 2025: ‘Slop’

Merriam-Webster, one of the world’s leading authorities in language, has elected ‘slop’ as its word of the year for 2025. The selection process involves a meticulous analysis of data, including how often a word is searched for, and its prevalence in everyday conversations. Previous words that have captured the zeitgeist include ‘brain rot’, ‘vax’, ‘goblin mode’, and ‘populism’.

However, it’s important to note that not everyone’s year is the same, and the chosen word may not resonate with everyone. That’s why The Globe and Mail has taken a different approach for 2025.

Choose Your Own Word of the Year

The Globe and Mail, in a unique initiative, has compiled a list of eight words that they believe best encapsulate 2025. Some of these words have been chosen by dictionaries, while others have been selected by their editorial team. They have created an interactive questionnaire, allowing you to choose the word that best reflects your year. If you’re not happy with the result, you can start all over again.

By participating in this choose-your-own adventure, you get to decide what word best represents your personal experiences and sentiments in 2025. It’s a fun and engaging way to review the year and reflect on the significant events and trends that have shaped it.

Starting Over and Viewing All Words

At any point in the questionnaire, if you feel that the chosen word does not accurately reflect your year, you have the option to start over. You can also view all the words that have been compiled for this exercise. This ensures a more personalized and engaging experience as you navigate through the words of the year.

In summary, the word of the year is more than just a word – it’s a snapshot of our collective consciousness, a reflection of the major events, trends, and feelings of the past 12 months. So, what’s your word for 2025? Is it ‘slop’, ‘rage bait’, or ‘aura farming’? The choice is yours.

Ethan Radcliffe

Ethan Radcliffe is a senior reporter and digital editor at The Toronto Insider, specializing in Canadian federal policy, GTA urban development, and national economic trends. With over a decade of experience in North American journalism, Ethan focuses on translating complex legislative and economic developments into clear, accessible reporting for Canadian readers. Ethan’s work emphasizes policy analysis, government accountability, and data-driven reporting, with a strong focus on how federal and provincial decisions impact communities across the Greater Toronto Area and beyond. He has covered infrastructure planning, housing policy, fiscal strategy, and regulatory changes affecting Canadian households and businesses. A graduate of Toronto Metropolitan University’s School of Journalism, Ethan brings expertise in investigative reporting, long-form analysis, editorial standards, and digital publishing best practices. His reporting is guided by verifiable sources, public records, and transparent sourcing. In addition to reporting, Ethan has experience in newsroom editing, fact-checking workflows, SEO-informed journalism, and audience analytics, ensuring stories meet both editorial integrity standards and modern digital discoverability requirements. Ethan is committed to objective, fact-driven journalism and adheres to established ethical guidelines, prioritizing accuracy, clarity, and public trust in all reporting.

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