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Oxford Word of the Year 2009: Unfriend

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Posted on Monday, November 16th, 2009 at 9:59 am

Birds are singing, the sun is shining and I am joyful first thing in the morning withoutcaffeine. Why you ask? Because it is Word of the Year time (or WOTY as we refer to it

around the office). Every year theNew Oxford American Dictionary prepares for the

holidays by making its biggest announcement of the year. This announcement is usually

applauded by some and derided by others and the ongoing conversation it sparks is always a

lot of fun, so I encourage you to let us know what you think in the comments.

Without further ado, the 2009 Word of the Year is: unfriend.

unfriend verb To remove someone as a friend on a social networking site such asFacebook.

As in, I decided to unfriend my roommate on Facebook after we had a fight.

It has both currency and potential longevity, notes Christine Lindberg, Senior

Lexicographer for Oxfords US dictionary program. In the online social networking context,

its meaning is understood, so its adoption as a modern verb form makes this an interestingchoice for Word of the Year. Most un- prefixed words are adjectives (unacceptable,

unpleasant), and there are certainly some familiar un- verbs (uncap, unpack), butunfriend is different from the norm. It assumes a verb sense of friend that is really not

used (at least not since maybe the 17th century!). Unfriend has real lex-appeal.

Wondering what other new words were considered for the New Oxford American Dictionary

2009 Word of the Year? Check out the list below.

Technology

hashtag a # [hash] sign added to a word or phrase that enables Twitterusers to search for

tweets (postings on the Twitter site) that contain similarly tagged items and view thematic

sets

intexticated distracted because texting on a cellphone while driving a vehicle

netbook a small, very portable laptop computer with limited memory

paywall a way of blocking access to a part of a website which is only available to payingsubscribers

sexting the sending of sexually explicit texts and pictures by cellphone

Economy

freemium a business model in which some basic services are provided for free, with the aim

of enticing users to pay for additional, premium features or content

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funemployed taking advantage of ones newly unemployed status to have fun or pursueother interests

zombie bank a financial institution whose liabilities are greater than its assets, but which

continues to operate because of government support

Politics and Current Affairs

Ardi (Ardipithecus ramidus) oldest known hominid, discovered in Ethiopia during the

1990s and announced to the public in 2009

birther a conspiracy theorist who challenges President Obamas birth certificate

choice mom a person who chooses to be a single mother

death panel a theoretical body that determines which patients deserve to live, when care is

rationed

teabagger-a person, who protests President Obamas tax policies and stimulus package,

often through local demonstrations known as Tea Party protests (in allusion to the Boston

Tea Party of 1773)

Environment

brown state a US state that does not have strict environmental regulations

green state a US state that has strict environmental regulations

ecotown- a town built and run on eco-friendly principles

Novelty Words

deleb a dead celebrity

tramp stamp a tattoo on the lower back, usually on a woman

Notable Word Clusters for 2009:

Twitter related:

Tweeps

TweetupTwitt

Twitterati

Twitterature

Twitterverse/sphere

Retweet

TwibeSweeple

Obamaisms:

Obamanomics

ObamaramaObamasty

Obamacons

Obamanos

Obamanation

Obamafication

ObamamessiahObamamama

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Tweepish

Tweetaholic

Twittermob

Twitterhea

Obamaeur

Obamanator

Obamaland

Obamalicious

Obamacles

ObamaniaObamacracy

Obamanon

Obamalypse