Since 1991, the American Dialect Society has designated one or more words or terms to be the word of the year. The New York Times credits the American Dialect Society with starting the phenomenon.
In addition, the ADS has chosen its "Word of the 1990s" (web), "Word of the 20th Century" (jazz), and "Word of the Past Millennium" (she). The society also selects words in other categories that vary from year to year, such as most original, most unnecessary, most outrageous and most likely to succeed (see word of the year).
A number of words chosen by the ADS are also on the list of Merriam-Webster's Words of the Year.
Read more about this topic: American Dialect Society
Famous quotes containing the words word of, word and/or year:
“This Ennui, for which we Saxons had no name, this word of France has got a terrific significance. It shortens life, and bereaves the day of its light.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)
“my heart leaps
in wonder.
Cold, fresh, deep, I feel the word ‘water’
spelled in my left palm.”
—Denise Levertov (b. 1923)
“In another year I’ll have enough money saved. Then I’m gonna go back to my hometown in Oregon and I’m gonna build a house for my mother and myself. And join the country club and take up golf. And I’ll meet the proper man with the proper position. And I’ll make a proper wife who can run a proper home and raise proper children. And I’ll be happy, because when you’re proper, you’re safe.”
—Daniel Taradash (b. 1913)