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The phrase "67" started out as a throwaway lyric and did not have any deeper definition but the internet was quick enough to turn it into a meme. Dictionary.com on Wednesday announced it has chosen "67" — pronounced "six seven," not sixty-seven — as its 2025 Word of the Year. 67 is an ambiguous slang term made popular by Gen Alpha on social media and in schools and friend groups across the country. It has its roots in the song "Doot Doot (6 7)", which Philadelphia-based rapper Skrilla released last December.The phrase "67" was popularized online largely through viral TikToks of basketball highlights including of LaMelo Ball, the Charlotte Hornets point guard who happens to stand 6 feet, 7 inches tall. Then other big-name basketball players, including LeBron James and Paige Bueckers, started using the term in interviews. It spread to other sports and, before long, schools across the country."67" craze on internetThe number “67” has taken the internet by storm and what's unique is that it isn't a word at all, but a two-digit number that went viral and became a cultural shorthand. In its announcement, Dictionary.com has acknowledged that “67” has no fixed meaning, but argued that the expression “captured the spirit of modern internet culture.”ALSO READ: JD Vance becomes his own meme on Halloween: US Vice-President's hilarious costume breaks the internet. Watch video The number has appeared in millions of TikTok posts under the hashtag #67, been adopted in classroom chants, and used by students and teachers alike — sometimes as a tool, sometimes as a disruption. Dictionary.com says searches for 67 surged over the summer, increasing "more than sixfold" since June with no signs of stopping. The term has inspired musical mashups, a recent South Park plotline and plenty of Halloween costumes. "67 shows the speed at which a new word can rocket around the world as a rising generation enters the global conversation," its announcement reads.Why a number?According to reports, the phrase "67" started out as a throwaway lyric and did not have any deeper definition but the internet was quick enough to turn it into a meme. "67" became a "rallying cry across TikTok" and an inside joke for younger generations. The term illustrates how language is shifting from concrete meaning to shared experience.Live EventsALSO READ: How rich is Trey Yesavage? Blue Jays Rookie’s $760,000 salary stuns fans. You won't believe his staggering net worthThe phrase "67" became popular when basketball fans linked it to NBA star LaMelo Ball. Reason- his height is six-feet-seven. Various edits and memes featuring his plays under the tag #67 multiplied. In schools, students began calling out “six” and expecting “seven” in response — either as a playful chant or a disruptive call‐and‐response. Some teachers adopted it to engage students, others banned it because it distracted classwork.The selection of "67" implies that communication in these times relies less on words that carry clear definitions but more on shared emotion and meme culture. “When people say it, they are not describing something; they are expressing it,” Dictionary.com explains. In that sense, “67” is a symbol of digital-native communication — more about energy and belonging than meaning.ALSO READ: Kash Patel flew in $60million FBI jet to attend his girlfriend’s performance? Outrage grows over Trump aide’s alleged misuseCriticism has also followed. Some linguists and critics question whether choosing a number undermines the purpose of a “Word of the Year.” Past picks such as “emoji,” “selfie” and “rizz” reflected more conventional lexical shifts. One critic described the trend of meaningless online content as “brain rot,” echoing a warning from Oxford University Press last year. Supporters counter that as language evolves, expressions may take forms beyond traditional words — numbers, codes, or memes — and still reflect cultural change.Add as a Reliable and Trusted News Source Add Now! (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel) Read More News onwhat does 67 mean67 Word of the YearGen Alpha slang67 meaningwhy 67 was chosen word of the year67 dictionary.comwhy number was chosen word of the yearmeaning of 6767 phrase meaning67 (Catch all the Business News, Breaking News and Latest News Updates on The Economic Times.) Subscribe to The Economic Times Prime and read the ET ePaper online....moreless (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel)Read More News onwhat does 67 mean67 Word of the YearGen Alpha slang67 meaningwhy 67 was chosen word of the year67 dictionary.comwhy number was chosen word of the yearmeaning of 6767 phrase meaning67(Catch all the Business News, Breaking News and Latest News Updates on The Economic Times.) Subscribe to The Economic Times Prime and read the ET ePaper online....moreless Explore More Stories123
