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Words that ruled and defined the decade 2010

TIMESOFINDIA.COM | Last updated on - Dec 23, 2020, 17:57 IST
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Words that ruled and defined the decade 2010

Evolution of language is a recurring process. Each year a team of lexicographers and language experts determine the words that trended in that year and should be prioritized for inclusion in the dictionary. As we move ahead into another decade, we round-up a few words of the last decade that rose to mainstream popularity and entered dictionaries between 2010 and 2020. While some relate to technology, others point to social movements, economic and political affairs, trends and pop culture. These words have defined the past decade and have certainly captured the ideas and phenomenons that ruled the decade. Read on to know more!


(Photo: Canva)

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Words of 2020

Oxford English Dictionary gave not one but a bunch of Words of an Unprecedented year.

Collins’ Dictionary: Lockdown

Dictionary.com & Merriam-Webster: Pandemic

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Words of 2019

Oxford English Dictionary: Climate emergency
Collins’ Dictionary: Climate strike
Dictionary.com: Existential
Merriam-Webster: They
4/12

Words of 2018

Oxford English Dictionary: Toxic
Collins’ Dictionary: Single-use
Dictionary.com: Misinformation
Merriam-Webster: Justice
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Words of 2017

Oxford English Dictionary: Youthquake
Collins’ Dictionary: Fake news
Dictionary.com: Complicit
Merriam-Webster: Feminism
6/12

Words of 2016

Oxford English Dictionary: Post-truth
Collins’ Dictionary: Brexit
Dictionary.com: Xenophobia
Merriam-Webster: Surreal
7/12

Words of 2015

Oxford English Dictionary: ��
Collins’ Dictionary: Binge-watch
Dictionary.com: Identity
Merriam-Webster: -ism
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Words of 2014

Oxford English Dictionary: Vape
Collins’ Dictionary: Photobomb
Dictionary.com: Exposure
Merriam-Webster: Culture
9/12

Words of 2013

Oxford English Dictionary: Selfie
Collins’ Dictionary: Geek
Dictionary.com: Privacy
Merriam-Webster: Science
10/12

Words of 2012

Oxford English Dictionary: Omnishambles (UK) & GIF (US)
Dictionary.com: Bluster
Merriam-Webster: Socialism
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Words of 2011

Oxford English Dictionary: Squeezed middle
Dictionary.com: Tergiversate
Merriam-Webster: Pragmatic
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Words of 2010

Oxford English Dictionary: Big society (UK) & Refudiate (US)
Dictionary.com: Change
Merriam-Webster: Austerity

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Copyright © Jun 10, 2026, 06.19PM IST Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. All rights reserved. For reprint rights: Times Syndication Service