VOA词汇掌故2023--Merriam-Webster Chooses ‘Authentic’ as Word of the Year

Merriam-Webster Chooses ‘Authentic¹’ as Word of the Year

The dictionary company Merriam-Webster chose the word "authentic" as its word of the year for 2023.

Something that is authentic is real or true.

The publisher celebrated² its 20th anniversary of choosing a word of the year on Monday. Speaking to The Associated Press, or AP, dictionary editor Peter Sokolowski said the world is in a "crisis of authenticity³" in 2023. "What we realize," he said, "is that when we question authenticity, we value it even more."

Sokolowski said the word is often looked up on Merriam-Webster's website, but in 2023 it was searched for even more than usual.

He noted⁴ that authentic is an important word in a world where artificial intelligence software permits people to create "deepfakes" or false videos that look real.

Often, Sokolowski said, words become "words of the year" because searches match world events. However, this year, there was a general increased interest in the word "authentic."

The AP noted that authenticity was a popular subject for discussion in 2023. People such as Taylor Swift and Prince Harry⁵ looked for authenticity in their performances and writing. Even businessman Elon Musk⁶ discussed authenticity at an event in February when he urged company leaders and politicians to operate their own social media accounts in order to "speak authentically⁷."

Authenticity is important in education, Sokolowski said. He said we are in a time when students can use artificial intelligence tools such as ChatGPT to complete writing assignments to avoid work.

"We don't always trust what we see anymore," he said.

The dictionary includes a number of descriptions to help people understand the word's meaning. It notes something that is authentic is "not false," "true to one's own personality," and "something made or done the same way as an original."

How the word is picked

Merriam-Webster says it filters out some common search words such as "effect" and "affect" that are always among the top searches. The online word game "Wordle" also increases searches for some words as players check letters and words before they play them.

Some other possible words for 2023 included "X" after Musk changed the name of the social media service formerly⁸ known as Twitter. Others include "EGOT" after the actress Viola Davis won a Grammy award and "elemental" after Pixar released a new movie in June.

However, the company settled on authentic one year after choosing "gaslighting." Gaslighting is a word that is used to discuss the act of misleading someone over a long period of time. In a way, it is the opposite of authentic.

Other popular words

Other words that were popular in 2023 but did not win "word of the year" included "rizz," a slang word that has to do with charm or appeal. It is a shortened form of the word charisma⁹.

"Implode¹⁰" became a popular search in 2023 after a vessel¹¹ used for undersea exploration was lost in June. Experts say the Titan vessel likely imploded¹² or broke apart because of the high water pressure in the deep sea.

"Coronation" was looked up often in May when Charles III was crowned King of England.

"Kibbutz" is a word that came up in recent weeks after the terror group Hamas attacked the Israeli "communal¹³ farms or settlements" near Gaza on October 7.

You can visit Merriam-Webster's website to look at more words that did not quite make the cut to become "word of the year."

Words in This Story

dictionary –n. a book that contains definitions of words in a language

match –v. to have two things that are related to each other or are linked in some way

personality –n. the qualities that make a person who they are

original –adj. something that is produced for the first time and is not a copy of something else

make the cut –v. (phrasal) to continue to the next level of a competition; to do enough to continue

1 authentic   

a.真的，真正的；可靠的，可信的，有根据的

参考例句：

• This is an authentic news report. We can depend on it. 这是篇可靠的新闻报道, 我们相信它。
• Autumn is also the authentic season of renewal. 秋天才是真正的除旧布新的季节。

2 celebrated   

adj.有名的，声誉卓著的

参考例句：

• He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。
• The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。

3 authenticity   

n.真实性

参考例句：

• There has been some debate over the authenticity of his will. 对于他的遗嘱的真实性一直有争论。
• The museum is seeking an expert opinion on the authenticity of the painting. 博物馆在请专家鉴定那幅画的真伪。

4 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

5 harry   

vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼

参考例句：

• Today,people feel more hurried and harried.今天，人们感到更加忙碌和苦恼。
• Obama harried business by Healthcare Reform plan.奥巴马用医改掠夺了商界。

6 musk   

n.麝香, 能发出麝香的各种各样的植物，香猫

参考例句：

• Musk is used for perfume and stimulant.麝香可以用作香料和兴奋剂。
• She scented her clothes with musk.她用麝香使衣服充满了香味。

7 authentically   

ad.sincerely真诚地

参考例句：

• Gina: And we should give him something 2 authentically Taiwanese. 吉娜：而且我们应该送他有纯正台湾味的东西。
• A loser is one who fails to correspond authentically. 失败者则指那些未能做到诚实可靠的人。

8 formerly   

adv.从前，以前

参考例句：

• We now enjoy these comforts of which formerly we had only heard.我们现在享受到了过去只是听说过的那些舒适条件。
• This boat was formerly used on the rivers of China.这船从前航行在中国内河里。

9 charisma   

n.(大众爱戴的)领袖气质，魅力

参考例句：

• He has enormous charisma. He is a giant of a man.他有超凡的个人魅力，是个伟人。
• I don't have the charisma to pull a crowd this size.我没有那么大的魅力，能吸引这么多人。

10 implode   

v.内爆，剧减

参考例句：

• The engine imploded.发动机内爆了。
• He has nightmares about the tanks imploding.他老是做油箱爆炸的噩梦。

11 vessel   

n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管

参考例句：

• The vessel is fully loaded with cargo for Shanghai.这艘船满载货物驶往上海。
• You should put the water into a vessel.你应该把水装入容器中。

12 imploded   

v.（使）向心聚爆( implode的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The economies of Brazil and Russia imploded in 1998. 巴西与俄罗斯的经济在1998年宣告破裂。 来自互联网
• A startling number of his nominees for senior positions have imploded. 他所提名的高级官员被否决的数目令人震惊。 来自互联网

13 communal   

adj.公有的，公共的，公社的，公社制的

参考例句：

• There was a communal toilet on the landing for the four flats.在楼梯平台上有一处公共卫生间供4套公寓使用。
• The toilets and other communal facilities were in a shocking state.厕所及其他公共设施的状况极其糟糕。