Word of the Year 'Beurret'... Selected by Collins Dictionary UK

Pop Star Charlie XCX Album Origin
From 'Troublemaker' to Meaning 'Cool, Stylish'

The Collins Dictionary in the UK has selected 'brat,' a word derived from pop star Charlie XCX's album, as the 'Word of the Year.'

The British Collins Dictionary has selected "brat," derived from pop star Charlie XCX's album, as the "Word of the Year." Photo by Charlie XCX (Instagram capture)

According to British media including The Times on the 1st, Collins Dictionary stated, "'Brat' is one of the most mentioned words in 2024," adding, "It has become a cultural phenomenon that resonates globally beyond just a hugely successful album."

The word brat originally had a negative meaning, such as 'rascal' or 'naughty kid.' It began to be used by medieval English writer Geoffrey Chaucer, author of The Canterbury Tales, to mean a coarse fabric cloak, and by the early 16th century, its meaning expanded to 'an unwanted child.'

The adjective 'bratty,' derived from brat, has been used since 1929 to mean 'childish' or 'immature.' In the 1980s, the neologism 'brat pack' emerged, referring to actors with a rebellious image like Demi Moore and Rob Lowe.

However, today brat is used among young people as a positive adjective describing a 'confident, independent, and hedonistic attitude.' Charlie XCX’s release of the album Brat in June this year was a turning point in the word’s meaning, with the lime color used in both the word and album becoming a meme (internet viral content) and gaining huge popularity. Since then, 'brat' has expanded in meaning to signify a cool and stylish confident attitude.

When U.S. President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the presidential race last July, Charlie XCX posted on her social media, "Harris is a 'brat,'" expressing support for Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential candidate.

Meanwhile, other candidates for Collins Dictionary’s 'Word of the Year' included 'looksmaxxing,' meaning efforts to appear as attractive as possible; 'romantasy,' a literary genre blending romance and fantasy; and 'yapping,' meaning talking at length about trivial matters.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.