The Oxford English Dictionary has determined that the word of the year for 2025 will be "rage bait," which translates to "a bait for anger." This decision was published by Oxford University Press on its website.
OUP noted that this word has become "an ideal reflection of the chaos of 2025." The definition of "rage bait" includes "online content created with the intention of provoking anger or outrage, using provocative or offensive elements, usually with the aim of increasing traffic or engagement on a webpage or social media."
The publisher also pointed to the rise of provocateurs online as a reason for the popularity of this term, which is related to a more conscious approach by users to online content.
It is worth noting that last year, the word of the year was "brain rot," which first appeared in the language in 1854, as highlighted by the publisher.
