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Dictionary.com has announced its Word of the Year, which surprisingly isn't a word at all, but rather two numbers. The organisation has selected 67 as the word of 2025, highlighting that the winner and runners-up "capture pivotal moments in language and culture." The term 67, pronounced as "six-seven" instead of "sixty seven," is Gen Z slang that has gained significant traction on social media platforms, reports the Mirror US . "These words serve as a linguistic time capsule, reflecting social trends and global events that defined the year. The Word of the Year isn't just about popular usage; it reveals the stories we tell about ourselves and how we've changed over the year," Dictionary.com stated. If you're unfamiliar with this term, chances are you don't have young children in your life. The phrase 67 likely originates from a song titled Doot Doot (6 7) by rapper Skrilla. Subsequently, a lad went viral on TikTok for shouting "67," complete with hand gestures, after his basketball team missed a point. Now, the phrase is ubiquitous on TikTok, leaving parents and teachers puzzled about its meaning. The interpretation isn't clear-cut. Some suggest it could be used as a substitute for "so-so." For instance, in the context of the basketball game, it might be used when something isn't particularly impressive. Dictionary.com provides an example of a parent asking their child, "How was school today?" to which the youngster might respond, "67." Many people believe, however, that it could be meaningless, which is part of its appeal. It is simply another nonsense word doing the rounds online, which is a trademark of "brainrot," the contender for word of 2024. Dictionary.com selects its Word of the Year by examining data from newsworthy headlines, social media trends, search engine results, and more. "Searches for 67 experienced a dramatic rise beginning in the summer of 2025. Since June, those searches have increased more than sixfold, and so far the surge shows no signs of stopping. Most other two-digit numbers had no meaningful trend over that period, implying that there is something special about 67," Dictionary.com reported. There was a shortlist for other potential winners this year. They include:. For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.
