HomeMerriam-Webster's 2024 Word of the Year is 'slop'
One of America's leading dictionaries has taken note of AI's growing influence on social media feeds. Amid the flood of online content over the past year, Merriam-Webster declared "slop" its 2025 Word of the Year this Sunday.
The dictionary defines the term as "low-quality digital content, typically mass-produced using artificial intelligence."
"Like slime, sludge, and muck, slop carries the messy, unpleasant connotation of something you'd rather avoid. It seeps into every corner," the dictionary explains, noting that in this era of AI concerns, the word strikes "a tone that's less fearful and more dismissive" toward the technology.
"It's such a descriptive term," Merriam-Webster's president, Greg Barlow, shared with The Associated Press. "It's connected to transformative AI technology—something people find intriguing, frustrating, and somewhat absurd."
The term "slop" has gained widespread use this year as journalists and commentators describe how platforms like OpenAI’s Sora and Google Gemini’s Veo are reshaping the internet. Thanks to these new media generators, we now see AI-created books, podcasts, pop songs, commercials—even full-length films. A May study suggested that nearly 75% of new web content from the previous month involved some form of AI.
These tools have spurred what's being called a "slop economy," where large volumes of AI-generated content are monetized through advertising. Critics argue this trend is deepening divides in online communities, separating those who can access premium, high-quality content from those limited to a diet of "slop"—which, as you might guess, offers little informational substance.
But "slop" also describes AI's effect on fields beyond traditional media, including cybersecurity reports, legal documents, and academic essays. Its reach is undeniably broad.
In a related trend, tech-related terms dominated this year's Word of the Year selections. Macquarie Dictionary named "AI slop" its top pick, while Oxford Dictionary chose "ragebait." Collins Dictionary went with "vibe coding."
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Das Wort des Jahres ist 'slop'? Interessant, wie die Sprache auf technologische Entwicklungen reagiert. Es erinnert mich an die endlosen, oft sinnlosen KI-generierten Inhalte, die man überall sieht. Manchmal frage ich mich, ob wir in einer Ära der digitalen 'Füllmasse' leben. 🤔 Die Definition als 'low-quality' Content trifft den Nagel auf den Kopf. Hoffentlich macht uns das bewusster, was wir konsumieren und teilen.
One of America's leading dictionaries has taken note of AI's growing influence on social media feeds. Amid the flood of online content over the past year, Merriam-Webster declared "slop" its 2025 Word of the Year this Sunday.
The dictionary defines the term as "low-quality digital content, typically mass-produced using artificial intelligence."
"Like slime, sludge, and muck, slop carries the messy, unpleasant connotation of something you'd rather avoid. It seeps into every corner," the dictionary explains, noting that in this era of AI concerns, the word strikes "a tone that's less fearful and more dismissive" toward the technology.
"It's such a descriptive term," Merriam-Webster's president, Greg Barlow, shared with The Associated Press. "It's connected to transformative AI technology—something people find intriguing, frustrating, and somewhat absurd."
The term "slop" has gained widespread use this year as journalists and commentators describe how platforms like OpenAI’s Sora and Google Gemini’s Veo are reshaping the internet. Thanks to these new media generators, we now see AI-created books, podcasts, pop songs, commercials—even full-length films. A May study suggested that nearly 75% of new web content from the previous month involved some form of AI.
These tools have spurred what's being called a "slop economy," where large volumes of AI-generated content are monetized through advertising. Critics argue this trend is deepening divides in online communities, separating those who can access premium, high-quality content from those limited to a diet of "slop"—which, as you might guess, offers little informational substance.
But "slop" also describes AI's effect on fields beyond traditional media, including cybersecurity reports, legal documents, and academic essays. Its reach is undeniably broad.
In a related trend, tech-related terms dominated this year's Word of the Year selections. Macquarie Dictionary named "AI slop" its top pick, while Oxford Dictionary chose "ragebait." Collins Dictionary went with "vibe coding."
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Das Wort des Jahres ist 'slop'? Interessant, wie die Sprache auf technologische Entwicklungen reagiert. Es erinnert mich an die endlosen, oft sinnlosen KI-generierten Inhalte, die man überall sieht. Manchmal frage ich mich, ob wir in einer Ära der digitalen 'Füllmasse' leben. 🤔 Die Definition als 'low-quality' Content trifft den Nagel auf den Kopf. Hoffentlich macht uns das bewusster, was wir konsumieren und teilen.
