“Polarization means division, but it’s a very specific kind of division,” said Peter Sokolowski, Merriam-Webster’s editor at large, in an exclusive interview with The Associated Press ahead of Monday's announcement.

By Anna Furman, Associated Press

“Brain rot” is defined as “the supposed deterioration of a person’s mental or intellectual state,” especially from consuming too much low-grade online content.

By Associated Press

Authentic cuisine. Authentic voice. Authentic self. Authenticity as artifice. Lookups for the word are routinely heavy on the dictionary company's site but were boosted to new heights throughout the year.

By Leanne Italie, Associated Press

It defines the term as “a type of behavior which is unapologetically self-indulgent, lazy, slovenly, or greedy, typically in a way that rejects social norms or expectations.”…

By Associated Press