Word of the Year 2010: ‘Austerity’

The Word of the Year, published by Merriam-Webster Inc. based on popular searches in its online dictionary, is austerity in 2010, reflecting the public’s interest and response to the many political measures that use the word.

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.”

As austerity tops the Top Ten Word of Year 2010 list, with pragmatic and moratorium following close behind, as the second and third most popular words. Searches for pragmatic went up during the election season and during the political negotiations that came afterward.

“In a way, the popularity of pragmatic is reminiscent of 2005, when integrity was the most frequently looked-up word,” said John Morse, president and publisher of Merriam-Webster. “In both cases, I think the word described a quality that people value highly, want to understand fully, and are looking for in their leaders.”

Although many of the words on the list this year reflect a somber mood, one particular exception is ebullient, which means “having or showing liveliness and enthusiasm.” The word became notably popular during the rescue of the Chilean miners.

The Merriam-Webster has been publishing its Top Ten Word of the Year list since 2003.