Taylor Swift was a whole vibe in 2023 so it’s only appropriate that Dictionary.com named “eras” its “vibe word” of the year as it was the name of Swift’s record-breaking, world tour.
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“Vibe was one of Dictionary.com’s top lookups of the year, which led us to consider what word could best represent 2023’s overall culture vibe,” said Grant Barrett, head of lexicography at the website.
The word, eras, fit the part perfectly with it’s growing popularity throughout the year and being defined via dictionary.com as “periods of time in a person’s life characterized by something distinctive and noticeable, such as a particular emotional state, relationship, achievement, or interest.” Whether in reference to Tay Tay’s epic tour or your own personal stages in life, everyone is likely to have uttered the word at least once this year.
“Like vibe, the word eras has been undergoing a similarly slangy evolution, referring to our moods, aesthetics, and life stages—and in 2023, we saw a real surge in this use of eras across popular culture,” continued Barrett before acknowledging the success of Swift’s career contributing to their decision.
“Our choice is also, of course, inspired by the year’s most high-profile, record-setting, impossible-to-ignore cultural phenomenon,” Barrett added. “Swift’s use of the word on the grandest of stages has helped to solidify it as a way of taking control of one’s own story.”
Can’t argue with that!