'Unfriend' Named Oxford Word of the Year
Oxford's word of the year is likely to irk those who dislike social networking.
Over the last year, social media and social networking have exploded. Hardly surprising then that 'unfriend' has been named as Oxford's Word of the Year. Now is probably a good time to remind you that just because it's hardly surprising, that doesn't mean it's not really, really depressing.
"Every year the New Oxford American Dictionary prepares for the holidays by making its biggest announcement of the year," reads a post on the Oxford University Press. "This announcement is usually applauded by some and derided by others and the ongoing conversation it sparks is always a lot of fun, so I encourage you to let us know what you think in the comments. Without further ado, the 2009 Word of the Year is: unfriend."
And the official definition for this new newfangled term?
unfriend – verb – To remove someone as a ‘friend’ on a social networking site such as Facebook.
As in, “I decided to unfriend my roommate on Facebook after we had a fight.”
According to Christine Lindberg, Senior Lexicographer for Oxford’s US dictionary program, "Unfriend has real lex-appeal.”
Just in case you were wondering, unfriend was up against some words that actually made sense, like netbook and ecotown.
Check out the full list of words below:
Hashtag – a # [hash] sign added to a word or phrase that enables Twitter users to search for tweets (postings on the Twitter site) that contain similarly tagged items and view thematic sets
Intexticated – distracted because texting on a cellphone while driving a vehicle
Netbook – a small, very portable laptop computer with limited memory
Paywall – a way of blocking access to a part of a website which is only available to paying subscribers
Sexting – the sending of sexually explicit texts and pictures by cellphone
Freemium – a business model in which some basic services are provided for free, with the aim of enticing users to pay for additional, premium features or content
Funemployed – taking advantage of one’s newly unemployed status to have fun or pursue other interests
Zombie bank – a financial institution whose liabilities are greater than its assets, but which continues to operate because of government support
Ardi – (Ardipithecus ramidus) oldest known hominid, discovered in Ethiopia during the 1990s and announced to the public in 2009
Birther – a conspiracy theorist who challenges President Obama’s birth certificate
Choice mom – a person who chooses to be a single mother
Death panel – a theoretical body that determines which patients deserve to live, when care is rationed
Teabagger – a person, who protests President Obama’s tax policies and stimulus package, often through local demonstrations known as “Tea Party” protests (in allusion to the Boston Tea Party of 1773)
Brown state – a US state that does not have strict environmental regulations
Green state – a US state that has strict environmental regulations
Ecotown – a town built and run on eco-friendly principles
Deleb – a dead celebrity
Tramp stamp – a tattoo on the lower back, usually on a woman
Got a word that you think Oxford missed? Let us know in the comments below!
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Those are all really great words for the sake of laughs. But as for serious words, it would be no fun if it was actually a serious word.
Facebook isn't that bad, as long as your not addicted....
"Netbook – a small, very portable laptop computer with limited memory"
Limited memory?
So if I have a netbook and put a 4GB module in it, it ceases to be a netbook?
How about "limited computing power"?
Tramp stamp woulda been my vote.
Some of words are funny.
Like the:
Freemium
Funemployed
Zombie bank
Teabagger
Tramp stamp
Deleb
So 2009 is the year of the portmanteau, eh? It almost seems a little bit sad, really, that there aren't really any "new" words per se, just horrible, seemingly teen-speak inspired mashups. The linguist in me weeps.
The fact that "unfriend" has been made the word of the year can only be described as doubleplusbad.
I, for one, do not welcome our Newspeak-speaking overlords.
imho, slang and technical terms really need to be in their own dictionaries. They should not be grouped together with words that represent the official American English language. The definition for 'unfriend' is a friggin' Facebook advertisement, for Pete's sake.
'Teabagger' was something TOTALLY different in my book.
Lol, never heard of unfriending someone. Guess remove friend is too long. Of course I don't use facebook, so it's probably because of that.
Ah well, guess in 20 years, the only words left in the dictionary are words that didn't exist 10 years ago.
'Teabagger' was something TOTALLY different in my book.
Yeah. No one told the boffins at Oxford that...
Ah Americanism, the bastardisation of the English language. If the Oxford American dictionary biggest announcement is the inclusion of a nonsensical word, surely they need to fine new employment...
'Teabagger' was something TOTALLY different in my book.
i don't think they are halo fans, or play video games at all.lol
Teabagger in no way refers to the boston tea party.. We've *gamers* have already laid claim to that word, so nice try, but um no.
i don't think they are halo fans, or play video games at all.lol
Teabagger in no way refers to the boston tea party.. We've *gamers* have already laid claim to that word, so nice try, but um no.
You guys have totally missed the sexual version!
"Teabagger:
1. n. A man that dips his scrotum and testicles into the mouth of another person. (as if dipping a tea bag into hot water) "
Sorry kingnoobe, but Teabagger was used long before you "gamers" laid claim to it.
unfriend isn't a word
The nerds at Oxford probably do know abou teabagging, mostly because plenty of them are avid gaming nerds. Warwick students are worse though...
if sexting is writing a message with sexual content, what would it be if you sent a perfectly normal message while having sex?
textgasm?
here's one for tomshardware: tommyfied, one addicted to toms.
I like deleb. Haha.
Oh a new one I hope:
"Oba Mao"
(recent news)
This is ridiculous.. one of these days all these companies and organisations will look back at their jumping on the social networking bandwagon with the most unbearable cringeworthy embarassment and shame
I have nothing against adding new words to round out the english language, however, I think we need to do better than this. Adding every slang word to the dictionary is only going to make people even worse when it comes to communication. I dread the day where we see "lol" "skool" and "roflcopter" in an official dictionary.
Freemium and Zombie Bank take my votes!
who the ef uses "unfriend"?! Everyone I know in NY, SF, or LA uses "defriend" when mentioning they removed someone from their profile on a social networking site like facebook or myspace!
I would imagine a bank staffed by zombies would be more helpful...
also, how is unfreind even a word. no wonder the English language is screwed. "Oh some group of tweens said it? well they ARE the pioneering experts on the language, so it must be a word!"
does that mean that 'friend' is now a verb? meaning to become friends? we already have a word for that, its called 'befriend'.
so shouldn't it atleast be unbefriend? but then I suppose the people who define our language wouldn't be able to count the number of syllables in it...
also, social networking is lame.
Oxford forgot to include "camwhore".
Maybe a slang dictionary would be a good idea, because the best that we have now is Urban Dictionary and Encyclopedia Dramatica (don't search them if you're at work now...)
I have two words for general use:
yoring: adj. describes something that is so boring that it causes one to yawn
swait: vb. as in artisan's speak - hurry up and wait - only that one has to sit while doing so
"Netbook – a small, very portable laptop computer with limited memory"Limited memory? So if I have a netbook and put a 4GB module in it, it ceases to be a netbook?How about "limited computing power"?
What about ULV laptops that only have 1GB or memory? Also only like a 1.2GHz dual core, so also extremely limited processing power.
Funny regardless.
I love my Net btut I never liked so much Facebook and why i never use it. Seeing ppl talking more to their friends on Facebook than even the phone that got them lazy in the first place from meeting and having a coffee or a drink or watching amovie etc, now it movedto social networking and now our new vocabulary is words we make up from chatting etc. This is indeed rather depressing. They just made me hate this situation even more than before. Im greek and thank god we dont make up in greek new "online" words. From the only things left Im proud of as Greek I guess it can be adde to my limited list.... Still sounds sad from whatever aspect you see this matter.