Merriam-Webster’s 2023 word of the year is ‘authentic’

Merriam-Webster has announced its word of the year for 2023: Authentic. The dictionary defines the word as “not false or imitation, real, actual.”

Each year, the dictionary selects a “word of the year,” relying on search data and an examination of words’ appearances across the media. This year’s word seems to be connected with general concern over AI-generated content, social media filters and, of course, our contentious political landscape.

“We see in 2023 a kind of crisis of authenticity,” said Peter Sokolowski, Merriam-Webster’s editor at large, told The Associated Press. “What we realize is that when we question authenticity, we value it even more.”

According to Sokolowski, “authenticity” saw a surge in lookups on Merriam-Webster’s website throughout 2023, pointing to a heightened awareness of its significance in our lives.

“Can we trust whether a student wrote this paper? Can we trust whether a politician made this statement? We don’t always trust what we see anymore,” Sokolowski noted.

This year’s pick reflects a growing desire for realness and substance amidst a sea of curated online personas and carefully crafted social media narratives. People yearn for authenticity, seeking experiences and interactions that resonate with their true selves.

While “authentic” took the top spot this year, several other words also saw big spikes in searches, according to the Associated Press, including: