No other word encapsulates this very sad fact—humanity is not just divided, we are polarized.
We live in a deeply divided world. And the things that divide us come in all forms: politics, religion, race, gender, environment, even pop culture. While there are issues we don’t agree on that can be considered trivial—pineapples on pizza, for instance—there are those that lead to broken relationships and even broken nations.
We are faced with a very sad fact: In so many ways, humanity is more than just divided; we are polarized.
This is why Merriam-Webster chose “polarization” as its 2024 Word of the Year. For the 194-year-old dictionary, and for many of us, this is the one word that best describes the current state of the world.
The dictionary defines polarization as “division into two sharply distinct opposites; especially, a state in which the opinions, beliefs, or interests of a group or society no longer range along a continuum but become concentrated at opposing extremes.”
Related story: ‘Demure,’ ‘manifest,’ ‘brat’: Internet-famous words make it to Word of the Year lists
Related story: What is ‘brain rot,’ Oxford Dictionary’s Word of the Year 2024?
Its entry for “polarization” reflects scientific and metaphorical definitions. It’s most commonly used to mean “causing strong disagreement between opposing factions or groupings.”
“Polarization means division, but it’s a very specific kind of division,” said Peter Sokolowski, Merriam-Webster’s editor at large, in an interview with The Associated Press. “Polarization means that we are tending toward the extremes rather than toward the center.”
Nowhere is polarization more evident than in politics. The recent US elections, for instance, further polarized a nation already cleaved in the middle for far too long and far too deeply.
We, however, don’t have to look very far. We live in a deeply polarized nation ourselves. Are you BBM, DDS, or Kakampink? Are you pro- or anti-divorce?
What polarizes us is not limited to politics or societal concerns. Popular culture—local or international—is a hotbed of polarizing issues. Should Lisa of Blackpink be considered a K-pop artist or not? Does Beyoncé deserve being the greatest pop star of the 21st century per Billboard, or should it have been Taylor Swift? Is Carlos Yulo a good or ungrateful son?
Regular online squabbles frequently taking a turn for the nasty reveal how deeply polarizing so many issues are, even the seemingly frivolous ones. These underline our dire need for healthy debates to make things less divisive, even if we can’t always be on the same page. This, however, is a topic for another day.
Related story: In a time of AI and delulus, ‘authentic’ is Merriam-Webster’s 2023 Word of the Year
Related story: Oxford’s Word of the Year is ‘rizz.’ Here’s the year in words or a cultural snapshot of 2023
Related story: How to slay Gen Z Jargon 101
For 2023, Merriam-Webster’s pick was “authentic,” a choice driven by stories and conversations about artificial intelligence (AI), celebrities, identity, and social media. Last year’s pick is largely influenced by online developments and pop culture, much like the Word of the Year picks earlier released by Cambridge, Collins, Dictionary.com, and Oxford Dictionary which are “manifest,” “brat,” “demure,” and “brainrot,” respectively. Merriam-Webster’s pick this year, “polarization,” is a noticeable shift from the trend.
But just like other dictionaries, Merriam-Webster, which logs 100 million page views a month on its site, also chooses its word of the year based on data, tracking a rise in search and usage.
Completing Merriam-Webster’s shortlist are: “demure” (Jools Lebron, you’re a queen), “fortnight” (thanks to Taylor Swift’s song); “totality,” resonate,” “allision,” “weird,” “cognitive,” “pander,” and “democracy.”
Related story: Pantone’s Color of the Year 2024 evokes ‘thoughtful indulgence‘
Related story: The New York Times reveals its 2024 Most Stylish list—with some rather surprising entries
Related story: You can now find katsu, takoyaki, and other yummy Japanese dishes in the Oxford English Dictionary
