[Ads-l] 2021 Word of the Year is "insurrection"

[Ben Zimmer]

https://www.americandialect.org/2021-word-of-the-year-is-insurrection

The American Dialect Society, in its 32nd annual words-of-the-year vote,
selected "insurrection" as the Word of the Year for 2021. While the
selection is typically held in person at the society’s annual meeting, for
the second year in a row the event was conducted as a webinar open to all
who were interested in attending via Zoom. More than three hundred
attendees took part in the deliberations and voting.

Presiding at the Jan. 7 voting session was Ben Zimmer, chair of the ADS New
Words Committee and language columnist for the Wall Street Journal.

"More than a year after the attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, the
nation is still coming to grips with what happened that day," Zimmer said.
"At the time, words like 'coup,' 'sedition,' and 'riot' were used to
describe the disturbing events at the Capitol, but 'insurrection' -- a term
for a violent attempt to take control of the government -- is the one that
many felt best encapsulates the threat to democracy experienced that day.
The lasting effects of that insurrection will be felt for years to come."

The full press release, including all winners, candidates, and vote tallies
for all candidates, is here:
https://www.americandialect.org/wp-content/uploads/2021-Word-of-the-Year-PRESS-RELEASE.pdf

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The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org