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If you’ve ever felt like your brain’s been fried by endless online scrolling, you’re not alone. Oxford University Press has officially crowned “brain rot” as its Word of the Year for 2024.
According to Oxford, the term refers to the “deterioration of a person’s mental state, often from consuming too much trivial or shallow content online.” Its usage skyrocketed by 230% this year, cementing its place in modern vocabulary.
The term isn’t entirely new—Henry David Thoreau first used it back in 1854 in Walden. But in 2024, it took on fresh relevance as a critique of how we spend our free time in the digital age.
Oxford Languages President Casper Grathwohl noted, “It reflects growing concerns about the impact of virtual life on our mental well-being.”
“Brain rot” was chosen through a mix of public voting and analysis by Oxford’s language experts, beating out other finalists like “demure,” “romantasy,” and “dynamic pricing.”
This year’s pick continues a trend of words that capture the zeitgeist. Last year’s winner was “rizz,” a term celebrating charisma and flirtation, while Collins Dictionary’s word for 2024, “brat,” leaned into the carefree, rebellious spirit of the summer.
“Brain rot,” however, strikes a more serious note—a wake-up call about how we’re spending our time in an increasingly digital world.
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