Is Brat summer really over? Collins Dictionary selects 'brat' as 2024 Word of the Year
Brat summer may be over, but its legacy will now live on forever.
The Collins English Dictionary announced on Friday that its' 2024 Word of the Year is "brat," inspired by Charli XCX's album of the same name. The dictionary defines the adjective "brat" as, "characterized by a confident, independent and hedonistic attitude."
"'Brat' has become one of the most talked about words of 2024," Collins English Dictionary stated. "More than a hugely successful album, 'brat' is a cultural phenomenon that has resonated with people globally, and 'brat summer' established itself as an aesthetic and a way of life."
Released in June, Charli XCX's "Brat" album has taken the world by storm, with the bright "brat green" color dominating summer outfits and the "Apple Dance" taking over social media. The album was ranked No. 13 on the Billboard Top 200 chart on Friday, and in June, "Brat" ranked as the top Dance/Electronic Album, according to Billboard.
In an interview shared to TikTok this summer, the artist described "brat" as, "You're just like that girl who is a little messy and likes to party and maybe says some dumb things sometimes. She like feels herself but then also maybe has a breakdown but kind of like parties through it, is very honest, is very blunt, a little bit volatile."
Here's what other words were added to the dictionary
In addition to "brat," the Collins English Dictionary added 10 new words this year:
- Brainrot (noun): an ability to think clearly caused by excessive consumption of low-quality online content
- Era (noun): a period of one's life or career that is of a distinctive character
- Looksmaxxing (noun): attempting to maximize the attractiveness of one's physical apperance
- Rawdogging (noun): the act of undertaking an activity without preparation, support or equipment
- Anti-tourism (noun): opposition to or action against large-scale tourism
- Delulu (adjective): utterly mistaken or unrealistic in one's ideas or expectations
- Romantasy (noun): a literary genre that combines romantic fiction with fantasy
- Supermajority (noun): a large majority in a legislative assembly that enables a government to pass laws without effective scrutiny
- Yapping (noun): talking at length, especially about inconsequential matter
Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at Paste BN. Follow her on X and Instagram @gretalcross. Story idea? Email her at gcross@gannett.com.