American Dialect Society 2016 Words of the Year

NOMINATIONS to be voted on by the American Dialect Society Jan. 6, 2017, Austin, TX

POLITICAL WORD OF THE YEAR EUPHEMISM OF THE YEAR deplorables (basket of): epithet used by alt-right: umbrella term for extremist racial Clinton in speech about Trump supporters ideologies including white nationalism and nasty woman: epithet used by Trump white supremacy addressing Clinton in final presidential debate fake news: misinformation, hoaxes, and Pantsuit Nation: popular Facebook group for propaganda, especially as spread on social Clinton supporters media sites to boost web traffic post-truth: belonging to a time in which facts locker-room banter: lewd, vulgar talk (used by matter less than beliefs and emotions Trump to downplay Access Hollywood tape) unpresidented: erroneous version of small/tiny hands: jab at hand size implying unprecedented in a tweet by Trump other anatomical deficiencies

DIGITAL WORD OF THE YEAR WTF WORD OF THE YEAR fam: one’s crew, squad, circle of friends, etc. bigly: in a significant manner (from widespread Harambe: gorilla killed at Cincinnati Zoo, mishearing of Trump’s use of big-league) launching numerous tributes and memes cuck, cuckservative: derisive term for tweetstorm: series of connected tweets about a mainstream Republicans by alt-right particular subject, often a passionate rant pussy: term for female genitalia used by Trump @: (verb) reply on Twitter using the @ symbol in Access Hollywood tape yuge: dialect pronunciation of huge used by SLANG WORD OF THE YEAR Trump and Bernie Sanders fire: (adj.) cool, fun, stylish receipts: proof (as in “show me the receipts”) HASHTAG OF THE YEAR slay: succeed, be excellent or amazing #blackgirlmagic: celebration of black woke: socially aware or enlightened women and their achievements #NoDAPL: protest against construction MOST USEFUL/LIKELY TO SUCCEED of the Dakota Access Pipeline chip: (verb) insert a bank card into an electronic #OscarsSoWhite: criticism of Academy chip reader (as opposed to swipe) Award nominees’ lack of diversity gaslight: psychologically manipulate a person #pussygrabsback: rallying cry into questioning their own sanity responding to Trump’s “pussy” remark normalize: render normal that which was previously deemed beyond acceptable bounds EMOJI OF THE YEAR turn up: get excited, have fun, enjoy oneself : raising hands (celebration, praise) MOST CREATIVE : raised fist (fist pump, solidarity) -exit: combining form relating to departure, : upside-down face (silliness, sarcasm, irony) after Brexit (Calexit, Texit, Brangelexit) : fire (“lit,” exciting); : dumpster fire facticide: killing or distortion of facts gynotician: politician seen as interfering with WORD OF THE YEAR women’s healthcare Nominations to be made at final meeting. laissez-fairydust: magical effect brought upon by laissez-faire economics