'Polarisation' named Merriam-Webster's word of the year

Merriam-Webster has chosen “polarisation” as its Word of the Year for 2024, reflecting the deepening divisions in society, particularly in the United States. The term, which denotes a shift towards extreme opposites rather than centrist positions, has come to encapsulate both political and cultural rifts.

Merriam-Webster’s editor-at-large, Peter Sokolowski, explained, “Polarisation means division, but it’s a very specific kind of division. It means we are tending toward the extremes rather than toward the centre.”

The word saw a significant rise in searches on the Merriam-Webster website, with usage spiking during the US presidential election in 2024.

This election, which saw Republican Donald Trump secure another term in office, highlighted the increasingly divisive nature of American politics. Many voters went to the polls with a heightened sense of urgency, fearing that the opposing candidate could pose an existential threat to the nation.

According to an AP VoteCast survey, about 80% of Kamala Harris voters felt that Trump’s views were extreme, while 70% of Trump supporters held similar concerns about Harris’s policies.

This sense of division is central to the term "polarisation," which is commonly used to describe the growing opposition between political factions, social groups, and even industries.

While the political context is most prevalent, “polarisation” has also become a metaphor for division in other sectors, such as entertainment, technology, and culture.

For example, debates over celebrity behaviour, like Taylor Swift’s private jet use, and disputes between artists such as Kendrick Lamar and Drake have been described as polarising.

Interestingly, the term itself has found widespread use across the political spectrum, with commentators from both sides of the aisle using it to describe the state of affairs. “It’s used by both sides,” Sokolowski noted. “In a little bit of an ironic twist, it’s something that actually everyone agrees on.”

"Polarisation" has roots dating back to the early 19th century, making it relatively young compared to other scientific terms derived from Latin. Despite its age, its relevance has skyrocketed in recent years as society grapples with divisions across multiple domains.

In 2024, Merriam-Webster’s choice follows last year’s selection of “authentic,” a word chosen as Americans navigated the complexities of truth and reality in an age of misinformation.

"It’s always been important to me that the dictionary serve as a kind of neutral and objective arbiter of meaning for everybody," Sokolowski said.

As the US—and the world—continues to experience increased division, "polarisation" seems poised to remain a key term in understanding the forces shaping contemporary society.