Austerity, a 14th century noun defined as “enforced or extreme economy” by Merriam-Webster, peaked “dramatically” in searches several times, throughout the year, as the public was concerned about global economic conditions and the debt crises in Europe (such as that which occurred in Greece), the company announced in a press release on Monday, Dec. 20.
“But lookups also remained strong throughout the year, reflecting widespread use of the word in many contexts,” Merriam-Webster stated.
“Austerity clearly resonates with many people,” said Peter Sokolowski, editor-at-large at Merriam-Webster, who monitors online dictionary searches. “We often hear it used in the context of government measures, but we also apply it to our own personal finances and what is sometimes called the new normal.”
