Oxford's 2023 Word of the Year Radiates Irresistible Charisma

The language experts at Oxford have selected "rizz" as the word of the year for 2023, describing it as a term derived from "charisma" that signifies the ability to attract a romantic partner through style, charm, or attractiveness. This relative newcomer to the lexicon received over 32,000 votes from the public.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 05: Taylor Swift makes an appearance at the 65th GRAMMY Awards on February 05, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)

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Merriam-Websters 2023 word of the year is the real deal

"Rizz" became widely popular earlier this year when Tom Holland, known for his role as Spider-Man, was questioned about the secret of his "rizz" by Buzzfeed. His response? "I don't have any 'rizz' at all. I have very little 'rizz.'" Additionally, the publisher of the Oxford English Dictionary noted that the word can also function as a verb in the expression "rizz up," which means to attract or engage in conversation with someone.

The word of the year contenders are not required to be new words, but they should hold significance to the year in question. OUP stated that their 2023 shortlist was selected to "reflect the mood, ethos, or preoccupations of the year."

Therefore, how did "rizz" manage to prevail over its competitors?

OUP experts selected eight words, paired them for public voting, and then analyzed the four finalists before choosing "rizz" as the winner. The other finalists were "prompt," the command given to an AI program; "situationship," referring to a non-formal romantic partnership; and "Swiftie," the term for a devoted Taylor Swift fan.

In 2022, Oxfords word of the year was "goblin mode," a colloquial term for behavior that is unapologetically lazy in a way that rejects social norms.