Oxford Releases Shortlist for 2025 Word of the Year

Oxford Unveils 2025 Word of the Year Shortlist, Public Voting Begins

Oxford University Press has announced the top contenders for the 2025 Word of the Year , opening the final round of public voting that will remain active until 27 November . The selection process highlights how language evolves with changing social behaviours, digital habits and global cultural shifts.

Three Trendworthy Words Competing for the Title

This year’s shortlist features three prominent expressions — aura farming, biohack , and rage bait . These terms have surfaced frequently across online communities, mainstream media and everyday speech, making them strong linguistic markers of present-day life. Each word captures a unique phenomenon linked to social media performance, self-enhancement and online outrage-economy dynamics.

Understanding the Words and Their Popularity

Aura farming refers to deliberately cultivating a charismatic or effortless persona, mainly through subtle mannerisms that attract admiration. The phrase surged after viral clips showcased individuals projecting confidence with minimal effort. Biohack highlights attempts to improve the human body or mind through nutritional changes, supplements and technology-driven tools. Meanwhile, rage bait describes content crafted specifically to trigger anger and increase engagement — a reflection of the current attention-driven internet ecosystem.

Why They Reflect 2025’s Cultural Mood

Oxford linguists selected these terms for how well they represent contemporary trends — from identity-building online to longevity culture and polarised digital discussions. The winning word will illustrate the concept most deeply embedded in global conversations this year.

Exam Oriented Facts

• Oxford started the Word of the Year selection in 2007 .

• Public voting for 2025 remains open till 27 November .

• Previous winners include Brait Rot (2024) , rizz (2023) and Goblin Mode (2022) .

• Shortlisted terms reflect linguistic data, global usage and media frequency.