Oxford Word of The Year; Not 1 but 47

Oxford Dictionary, like every year, released its word of the year. However, this time, instead of one, Oxford went ahead and released 47 words. 47 words of the unprecedented year 2020.

The team described this year as a year which “cannot be neatly accommodated in one single word.” It explained that it used "evidence-based data" to explore 2020's language developments. It added, “We saw new words emerge, and historical words resurface with new significance, as the English language developed rapidly to keep pace with the political upheaval and societal tensions that defined the year.” 

Casper Grathwohl, the president of Oxford Dictionaries said, “I have never witnessed a year in language like the one we've just had. The Oxford team was identifying hundreds of significant new words and usages as the year unfolded, dozens of which would have been a slam dunk for Word of the Year at any other time. It's both unprecedented and a little ironic - in a year that left us speechless, 2020 has been filled with new words unlike any other.“ 

When we have a look at the words, almost no one will question why a particular word made it to the list of the words of the years. While some words have become a part of our daily routine, others aren’t unheard either. The choice of the words highlight a particular event or how a particular event gave rise to another word.