According to Oxford University Press (OUP), “Rizz,” a slang term meaning “style, charm, or attractiveness,” has been named word of the year for 2023. This announcement was made on Monday, December 4.
With public assistance, its lexicographers selected “rizz,” which also means “the ability to attract a romantic or sexual partner,” from a shortlist of four words and phrases.
After eight contenders were chosen “to reflect the mood, ethos, or preoccupations” of the year, the list was narrowed down by an online vote.
“Rizz was chosen by the language experts at OUP as an interesting example of how language can be formed, shaped, and shared within communities, before being picked up more widely,” stated OUP.
“Etymologically, the term is believed to be a shortened form of the word ‘charisma’, taken from the middle part of the word, which is an unusual word formation pattern,” it stated.
The publisher also said that the phrase illustrates how Gen Z is becoming more and more influential in society and how “younger generations create spaces – online or in person – where they own and define the language they use”.
In June, the phrase became well-known after “Spider-Man” actor Tom Holland was questioned about his “rizz” by an interviewer.
In response, the 27-year-old said he had “no rizz whatsoever”.
Oxford’s word of the year is being chosen by the public for the second year running. In the first public poll held last year, “goblin mode” won.
In such case, the general public had the opportunity to select the ultimate winner.
The colloquialism that characterises “unapologetically self-indulgent, lazy, slovenly, or greedy” conduct was chosen by an overwhelming 93% of respondents.
The Oxford lexicographers’ previous selections for word of the year were “selfie” (2013), “vacax” (2021), and “climate emergency” (2019).
Over 30,000 word enthusiasts participated in the selection process for 2023, helping to determine the results of head-to-head matches between four distinct pairings of words or phrases.
“Beige flag” refers to a personality attribute that suggests a spouse or potential mate is uninteresting; they chose “rizz” instead.
Three other individuals were selected as finalists: “prompt” (an AI programme or algorithmic instruction), “Swiftie” (a fervent follower of Taylor Swift), and “situationship” (an unofficial or informal romantic or sexual connection).
“Rizz” has “exploded on social media,” according to OUP, demonstrating how the internet can push once-outside terminology “into the mainstream.”
“This is a story as old as language itself, but stories of linguistic evolution and expansion that used to take years can now take weeks or months.”
