2019 Word of the Year

Oxford names ‘Climate Emergency’ as its 2019 Word of the Year. The Word of the Year designation is intended to highlight “a word or expression shown through usage evidence to reflect the ethos, mood or preoccupations of the passing year.”

The term is defined as "a situation in which urgent action is required to reduce or halt climate change and avoid potentially irreversible environmental damage resulting from it," the Oxford Dictionary reported.

Check out this New York Times article that explains how this year's word was selected.