Word of the Year 2008

The Committee’s choice of Word of the Year 2008 is:

The committee, in the course of its review of the words that had been added the Macquarie Dictionary, considered the important events of 2008. The concern with the environment was an obvious issue and there were many words reflecting this, water footprint having considerable appeal. But the event of 2008 which overshadows all our lives was the GFC, itself a term now added to the lexicon. In this category toxic debt was thought to be the root cause, the lingering blight on our lives, and in addition it had, as a lexical creation, a visceral impact. It needed no explanation but said it all.

The Macquarie Dictionary Word of the Year Committee comprises:

Dr Michael Spence, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sydney
Professor Stephen Garton, Dean of the Faculty of Arts at the University of Sydney
Les Murray, renowned Australian poet
Susan Butler, Editor of the Macquarie Dictionary 

The Committee would like to give honourable mention to:

bromance

noun Colloquial a non-sexual but intense friendship between two males. [bro + (ro)mance¹]

textaholic

noun Colloquial someone who sends an excessive number of text messages.
—textaholism, noun

guerilla gardener

noun a person who plants gardens in areas controlled by councils or other organisations but neglected by them in terms of vegetation, as nature strips, roundabouts, council-maintained gardens, etc. Also, guerrilla gardener.

lawfare

noun the use of international law by a country to attack or criticise another country, especially a superior military power, on moral grounds, that is, by accusing it of having violated international law. [(international) law + (war)fare]

flashpacker

noun Colloquial a backpacker who travels in relative luxury. [flash(y) + (back)packer]
—flashpacking, noun

The People’s Choice Award for 2008 goes to:

Category winners:

Download the pdf below to view all the entries considered for Word of the Year 2008.