It's a fact - "fake news" named Word of the Year
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'Fake news' named Collins Dictionary's official Word of the Year for 2017
Orwellian coinage popularised by US President Donald Trump and his team during the presidential election campaign defines its moment, according to leading lexicographers
The term “fake news” has been named Collins' Word of the Year 2017.Usage of the term - which has often been used by US President Donald Trump - has risen by 365% since 2016.
Defined as “false, often sensational, information disseminated under the guise of news reporting”, “fake news” will now be added to the next print edition of Collins Dictionary.
Lexicographers, the people who compile dictionaries, found other politically relevant words had been significant over the last 12 months, including “antifa”, an abbreviation of “anti-fascist”, and “echo chamber”, which refers to those who share their opinions in environments, especially social media, where the only people who hear or read their views will be of a similar disposition. “
Corbynmania” enjoyed a resurgence in 2017 thanks to general election coverage, after surfacing in 2015.
Helen Newstead, Collins' head of language content, said: “Much of this year's list is definitely politically charged, but with a new President in the US and a snap election in the UK it is perhaps no surprise that politics continues to electrify the language.
“'Fake news', either as a statement of fact or as an accusation, has been inescapable this year, contributing to the undermining of society's trust in news reporting: given the term's ubiquity and its regular usage by President Trump, it is clear that Collins' Word of the Year 'fake news' is very real news.”
Other words on the list include “gender fluid”, “fidget spinner” and “cuffing season”, which is the habit of single people looking for a partner for the winter months but not necessarily for a longer period.
“Gig economy”, which describes an economy built around temporary or freelance workers, and “Insta”, meaning things relating to the photo-sharing app Instagram, were also used frequently this year.
All of the new words and meanings will be added to CollinsDictionary.com and will be considered for inclusion in future print editions.
Comments
It’s curious that they call Orwellian this coinage. George Orwell (English) was a writer against perfect and fair society (utopia). He was very criticized for being against welfare. Also, it’s paradoxical that US President Donald Trump has caused usage of this term. If “fake news” is defined as “false, often sensational, information disseminated under the guise of news reporting”, this saying may be applied to nonsensical Mr. Trump.
In my opinion, it’s okay. It’s better than “insta” or “fidget spinner”, but “echo-chamber”, “antifa” and “gig economy” sound well. I don’t understand the meaning of “corbynmania”, “gender fluid” and “cuffing season” which you will give me an explanation about it in the next class, please.
I agree with Mrs. Newstead that politics and politicians overrun until the language. Everything depends on politics. It’s sad. Now it’s more important than football. It’s beyond belief.
I think the term “fake news” maybe could be “disappointment” in Spain, precisely, due to politics and politicians.
See you.
Remind me to explain some of these expressions in your next class but to be honest, some of them I had never heard of. I think "fake news" is the right choice because it is an accusation that is often thrown around now.
It’s curious that they call this coinage Orwellian. George Orwell (English) was a writer against a perfect and fair society (utopia). He was greatly criticized for being against welfare. ...
In my opinion, it’s okay. It’s better than “insta” or “fidget spinner”, but “echo-chamber”, “antifa” and “gig economy” sound good. ...
I agree with Ms. Newstead that politics and politicians heavily influence language. Everything depends on politics. It’s sad. Now it’s more important than football. It’s beyond belief.
I think the term “fake news” could be a “disappointment” in Spain, precisely, due to politics and politicians.
I'm not sure why it could be a disappointment.
When interviewed by a British journalist, the Spanish foreign minister insisted that much of the news coming out of Catalonia was "fake news". I think it is a handy excuse for politicians.
On the other hand, the term “fake news” is fascinating as sign of the contemporary society, because it represents the kind of world where we live, the great distrust which generates the information that we receive of the media. The problem is in the behaviour of people like Donald Trump, who take advantage of his power in order to create confusion among the people who finally can’t know if the information that he gives is truth or false, probably because is half-truth. Trump accuses newspapers as important as The New York Time or Washington Post of lying, but if these newspapers have prestige is because the journalists who work in their newsrooms are serious and honest (generally). Finally we have to choose between the opinions of the president, with dark interests in the Russian business and the American real estate, and the information given by professional with deserve reputation. I don’t have doubt.
Anyway, other terms as “cuffing season” show us the type of society where we live, with a few foundations, improvised, superficial. In any case, I don’t think that our world is the worst of the possible worlds. I don’t have doubt: if I had to choose among different moment of history I would choose our world, despite Donal Trump.
José Luis professor
I think the term "fake news" precedes Donald Trump though he jumped on the bandwagon.
In the UK, Tony BLIAR gave us "spin" - manipulation of stories to be seen in a positive light.
The result is an imposition of a more influential language over another less influential one. This can be seen as a kind of cultural colonialism, of course....
On the other hand, the term “fake news” is fascinating as sign of the contemporary society, because it represents the kind of world in which we live, the great distrust which generates the information that we receive from the media. The problem is in the behaviour of people like Donald Trump, who take advantage of his power in order to create confusion among the people who finally can’t know if the information that he gives is true or false, probably because it is a half-truth. Trump accuses newspapers as important as The New York Time or Washington Post of lying, but if these newspapers have prestige, it is because the journalists who work in their newsrooms are serious and honest (generally). Finally we have to choose between the opinions of the president, with dark interests in Russian business and American real estate, and the information given by professionals with a deserved reputation. There is no doubt about it.
Anyway, other terms such as “cuffing season” show us the type of society in which we live, with few foundations, improvised, superficial. In any case, I don’t think that our world is the worst of the possible worlds. I am absolutely conivnced: if I had to choose between different moments in history, I would choose our world, despite Donal Trump.