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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Lifestyle
Anna Furman

Merriam-Webster names its word of the year — but what does it mean?

  • Merriam-Webster has named "slop" as its 2025 Word of the Year, reflecting the widespread impact of generative artificial intelligence.
  • The term refers to low-quality digital content, often produced in large quantities by AI, encompassing absurd videos, fake news, and junky AI-written books.
  • Merriam-Webster's president, Greg Barlow, highlighted that the word illustrates public fascination, annoyance, and concern regarding AI-generated material.
  • The choice of "slop" suggests an increased public awareness of fake or shoddy content and a growing desire for genuine and authentic information.
  • Other significant words considered for 2025 included "6-7", "performative", "gerrymander", "touch grass", "conclave", and "tariffs".

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