The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) has announced its word of the year for 2023: rizz. The slang term, which means “romantic appeal or charm”, has been popularized by social media personality Kai Cenat, who has used it to describe his skills in impressing women. According to the OED, rizz was chosen because it reflects “the mood, preoccupations, and aspirations of the passing year”.
Is the Rizz Meaning in Oxford Dictionary Pandering to Gen Z?
Not everyone is impressed by the OED’s choice. Some critics have accused the dictionary of pandering to Generation Z, the youngest and most diverse generation of consumers, who are known for their digital savviness and progressive views.
They argue that rizz is a trivial and ephemeral word that does not deserve to be recognized as a significant contribution to the English language. They also question the OED’s credibility and relevance in the age of social media, where new words and trends emerge and fade quickly.
However, supporters of rizz have defended the word as a reflection of Gen Z’s culture and influence. They point out that rizz is not just a word, but a concept that captures the essence of charisma and flirtation in the modern world.
They also praise the OED for being inclusive and adaptive to the changing linguistic landscape, where slang and internet terms are becoming more mainstream and widely used.
The debate over rizz is not the first time that the OED has sparked controversy with its word of the year. In 2015, the dictionary chose an emoji, the “face with tears of joy”, as its word of the year, causing outrage among some purists who argued that an emoji is not a word.
In 2019, the dictionary broke with tradition and chose not one, but several words of the year, reflecting the “complex, rapidly evolving, and often polarized” nature of the year. Some of the words included climate emergency, cancel culture, and influencer.
The OED’s word of the year is not meant to be a definitive or authoritative statement on the state of the language, but rather a snapshot of the most prominent and resonant words of a given year.
Whether one likes rizz or not, it is undeniable that the word has captured the attention and imagination of many people, especially Gen Zers, who are shaping the future of shopping, fashion, and society.
As the OED puts it, rizz is “a word that has lasting potential as a term of cultural significance”.
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