Oxford Announces 'Words of an Unprecedented Year' for 2020

Nov 23, 2020

In lieu of announcing its typical single word reflecting "the ethos, mood, or preoccupations" of the past twelve months, Oxford Languages has broadened its scope for its 2020 Word of the Year, releasing a report on the Words of an Unprecedented Year 2020. These words include the following:

The Language of Covid-19

  • coronavirus
  • Covid-19
  • pandemic 
  • circuit breaker
  • lockdown
  • shelter-in-place
  • bubbles
  • pods
  • face masks 
  • face coverings
  • key workers
  • frontliners
  • essential workers

Technology and Remote Working

  • remote
  • remotely
  • on mute
  • unmute
  • workation
  • staycation   

Social Movements, Social Media, and Politics 

  • Black Lives Matter/BLM
  • conspiracy theory
  • QAnon 
  • impeachment 
  • acquittal
  • mail-in
  • Brexit 

THE ENVIRONMENT

  • anthropause
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