Why was '67' chosen by Dictionary.com as the word of the year?

Dictionary.com chose '67' as its word of the year 2025. The seemingly meaningless term became a widespread cultural phenomenon, reflecting the change of language in the age of social media.

67 became the word of the year despite not having any particularly special meaning - Photo: AFP

There are still two months left in 2025, but the world of languages ​​already has a winner for the most anticipated title of the year.

Dictionary.com has just announced "67" (pronounced six-seven, not sixty-seven) as the word of the year for 2025 after it exploded on social media platforms and became widely used by young people.

"67" has become a global linguistic phenomenon.

According to Dictionary.com, "67" is a slang term for "brain rot"—a type of intentionally nonsensical phrase used for humorous, absurd, and connective purposes.

It is precisely this ambiguity and lack of a specific definition that has made "67" stand out, helping it surpass numerous other candidates to win the top spot.

"67" began appearing in widely shared clips, songs, and memes from late 2024. The word quickly became a linguistic phenomenon among middle school students in the US, then spread globally via TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube.

The origin of "67" is unclear, with some suggesting it originated from rapper Skrilla - Photo: CBS Morning

Dr. Steve Johnson, Director of Vocabulary at Dictionary Media Group, said that "67" is both a joke and a social communication symbol for the new generation.

"When someone says 'six seven,' they're not just repeating a meme; they're shouting out an emotion."

"This is one of the first words to function as an interjection, carrying an explosive energy that spreads and connects people, even when no one has yet agreed on what it truly means," he remarked.

According to ABC , the origins of "67" are rather vague, but clues suggest it was sparked from several different directions. One of the starting points is rapper Skrilla's song Doot Doot (6 7) released in 2024.

The phrase "67" is widely used on TikTok - Photo: Mashable

Around the same time, many people associated this number with NBA player LaMelo Ball, who was exactly 6 feet 7 inches tall. Then, a viral video of a boy dubbed "The 67 Kid" shouting "67" during a junior basketball game further fueled the term's popularity.

Statistics from Dictionary.com indicate that the frequency of "67" occurrences in October 2025 is six times higher than in all of 2024 combined. This demonstrates the incredible speed of language spread in the age of social media, where a new generation can turn a meaningless word into a "global language" in just a few months.

Besides "67," the shortlist for the word of the year 2025 also includes: agentic (AI capable of independent action), aura farming (cultivating an "aura" to gain attention online), Gen Z stare (Gen Z's characteristic "emotionless" expression), overtourism , tariff , and traditional wife .

LAN HUONG

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/vi-sao-67-duoc-dictionary-com-chon-la-tu-cua-nam-20251031103315285.htm