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Oxford University Press just announced its word of the year for 2023, and it’s one that may have sent some of us running to Google for an explanation.
“After over 30,000 language lovers around the world got involved to help refine our shortlist of eight words, we are pleased to announce that the Oxford Word of the Year 2023 is rizz,” the publishing company said in a press release.
The word “rizz,” popularized by Gen Z, is defined as “style, charm, or attractiveness; the ability to attract a romantic or sexual partner” and is derived from the middle part of “charisma,” the publisher explains.
According to the publisher, “rizz” made its first appearance last year in the Oxford Monitor Corpus of English.
After an interview with Tom Holland where the actor was asked about his “rizz,” the use of the word peaked in June, gaining the attention of language lovers everywhere.
Aside from rizz, the other finalists for word of the year were “prompt,” “situationship,” and “Swiftie,” but ultimately “rizz” took the crown.
“It speaks to how younger generations now have spaces, online or otherwise, to own and define the language they use,” Oxford University Press said.
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