Brain rot is Oxford’s 2024 word of the year: has it ever been two words before?

“Brain rot” has been declared Oxford University’s Word of the Year for 2024. With a staggering 230% increase in usage over the past year, “brain rot” beat out other contenders, including “demure,” “slop,” and “dynamic pricing.”

“Looking back at the Oxford Word of the Year over the past two decades, you can see society’s growing preoccupation with how our virtual lives are evolving, the way internet culture is permeating so much of who we are and what we talk about,” said Casper Grathwohl, President of Oxford Languages

The term itself is not new; its first documented use dates back to 1854 in Henry David Thoreau’s Walden, where he lamented society’s neglect of complex ideas in favor of simpler ones. Thoreau’s poignant questionis the example, ”While England endeavours to cure the potato rot, will not any endeavour to cure the brain-rot?”

Has the WotY ever been two words before?

Despite the naming convention, there have actually been mutliple two-worded words of the year. Since 2004, there have been eight two-worded winners, one of those being hyphenated. The most recent was in 2022 with “goblin mode”.

Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.