Word of the year

What It Means

Word of the year has two meanings. (1) As a personal practice, it's a single word you choose at the start of a year, such as "calm," "health" or "finish," and use to guide decisions for the next twelve months instead of writing a list of resolutionsNew Year's resolutionsGoals a person sets at the start of a new year to change a habit, learn something or improve their health, money or relationships. See more. (2) In publishing, it's the word a dictionary names each year as best capturing that year; Merriam-Webster picks its word from what people looked up most unusually often.

How People Say It

• "My word of the year is 'enough.'"
• "Did you see Merriam-Webster's word of the year?"
• "Instead of resolutions, I just pick one word."

The Breakdown

How to choose a personal word (Buhata's own steps)

1. Look back at the year that's ending and note what you want more of and less of.
2. Write down three to five candidate words, such as "steady," "brave," "rest" or "finish."
3. For each one, think of a real decision it would have changed this year.
4. Keep the one that would have changed the most, and write it down where you'll see it.
5. Set a monthly reminder to ask how the word showed up.

Some of Merriam-Webster's picks (the years this page checked)

Short version to try today. Write the one word you'd pick if the year started tomorrow, and one thing it would change this week.

Where It Comes From

Merriam-Webster names a Word of the Year each year, and the table above lists the ones this page checked on its own pages. The personal practice is spread by books such as "One Word That Will Change Your Life," published by Wiley, which sets out a process for finding a single word for the year.

Good to Know

Merriam-Webster chooses its word from lookup data: it sets aside words people always look up and focuses on those looked up far more that year than before. So its word reflects what readers were curious about; the choice doesn't mean the dictionary approves of the word. A personal word works best when it's something you can act on, and Buhata's own suggestion is to pair it with one habit or task, so it shows up in your week and not only in January.

Related Terms and Categories

• New Year's resolutions

  Goals a person sets at the start of a new year to change a habit, learn something or improve their health, money or relationships.

• SMART goals

  Goals written to pass five tests: specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound, an idea first published by George T. Doran in 1981.

• Weekly review

  A regular session, usually weekly, where you clear your inboxes, bring your lists and calendar up to date and decide what matters next.

• WOOP method

  A four-step goal method from psychologist Gabriele Oettingen: name a Wish, picture the Outcome, name your inner Obstacle, then make an if-then Plan.

• Habit tracker

  A simple record, on paper or in an app, where you mark each day you do a habit so you can see your progress at a glance.

Productivity methods and focus