Oxford Dictionary’s 2018 Word Of The Year Is ‘Toxic’. Sounds About Right

According to Oxford Dictionaries, the word that encapsulates 'ethos, mood, or preoccupations' of 2018 is 'toxic'.

By: News Desk |
November 27, 2018 6:39 pm

Last week, the Oxford Dictionary announced its ‘Word of the Year’ for 2018, and as per them, the word that encapsulates the ‘ethos, mood, or preoccupations’ of this year, is ‘toxic’. But, of course.

The Oxford Word of the Year 2018 is… pic.twitter.com/DotlZxxJVe

— Oxford Dictionaries (@OxfordWords) November 14, 2018

From ‘toxic air’ to ‘toxic politics’, the sheer scope of the word’s application in 2018 made ‘toxic’ the stand-out choice for our Word of the Year,” wrote Oxford Dictionary on Twitter.

From ‘toxic air’ to ‘toxic politics’, the sheer scope of its application in 2018 made ‘toxic’ the stand-out choice for our Word of the Year. Find out more about the choice at our Word of the Year hub: https://t.co/J1gxJBroOH #OxfordWOTY pic.twitter.com/97othfjZnN

— Oxford Dictionaries (@OxfordWords) November 15, 2018

Oxford Dictionary also explained the word, “The adjective toxic is defined as ‘poisonous’ and first appeared in English in the mid-seventeenth century from the medieval Latin toxicus, meaning ‘poisoned’ or ‘imbued with poison’.”

However, many people saw this as a throwback to 2003 when Britney Spears released her single, ‘Toxic’, which by the by, was pointed out by Oxford Dictionary.

Interestingly, our research into ‘toxic’ found that pop icon @britneyspears played a part in spreading this metaphorical use of the word; the lyrics of her 2003 song ‘Toxic’ draw an extended metaphor of a lover as a dangerous yet addictive drug. #OxfordWOTY pic.twitter.com/4Zw9dkOp52

— Oxford Dictionaries (@OxfordWords) November 15, 2018

Here is how people reacted to the announcement:

Britney knew. pic.twitter.com/ugADQ54vXN

— Adam Gaylord (@AuthorGaylord) November 15, 2018

True

“Toxic” is the 2018 word of the year. Britney Spears popularized the word in 2003. https://t.co/tKeYUDAoLq

— Matt Stopera (@mattstopera) November 17, 2018

Pretty sure this was word of the year 2003 as well … at least for me #Britney https://t.co/NqGypVzCdM

— Julie Chesseret (@JulieMaevaC) November 17, 2018

oxford declared “toxic” to be the word of the year and that’s why britney spears is way ahead of our time pic.twitter.com/CI4MVwWk0H

— veggie terry (@planeterryum) November 18, 2018

Britney Spears toxic came out In 2003…why is it the word of the year now?

— Toni Phillips (@toniphillipsTP) November 16, 2018

Oxford’s word of the year for 2018 is “toxic.”
Great. Now I’ve got Britney Spears stuck in my head.

— A.J. Hilton (@AJHilton_News) November 16, 2018

Seems appropriate tbh

— the filthiest nihilist (@elliemaytweet) November 15, 2018