Home Facebook vs. w00t: The Web Defines Word of the Year Competition

Facebook vs. w00t: The Web Defines Word of the Year Competition

In 2004 it was blog. In 2005 it was integrity. Last year it was truthiness. This year, among the twenty words competing for Merriam-Webster’s 2007 Word of the Year contest, are seven words that aren’t quite dictionary material just yet. MW culls the list each year from among the most frequently requested words on its online dictionary, and throws in a few of the most requested and suggested words from the Merriam-Webster’s Open Dictionary — where users can submit definitions for new words not contained in the pages of the official book (it’s something like the Urban Dictionary).

Of the seven new words to make this year’s short list, four owe their etymology to the web. Leading the pack: facebook. We just named Facebook as this year’s Best Web BigCo for their undeniable landscape changing impact over the past 12 months. One thing we didn’t factor, though, was their potential impact on the English language. Is it possible that Facebook could enter our lexicon the way Google has?

According to MW’s Open Dictionary, “facebook” is verb meaning to use Facebook, or to add (as a friend) or look someone up on Facebook (i.e., “I facebooked Sarah today.”). I wonder, what is the preferred way to look someone up on the web these days… googling or facebooking?

Other entrants that owe their derivation to the Internet: w00t — spelled with the traditional double zero (an interjection used to express joy); cruft (apparently coined popularized by 37 Signals front man Jason Fried to describe software elements that lack “style, quality, or relevancy,” says the Open Dictionary); and linkability (a noun that quantifies the potential for web content to attract back links).

Voting for this year’s list closed last Friday and the winner will be announced later in the month. My favorite word on the list? Quixotic. It’s real, it’s fun, and if played correctly it can score you 356 points in a game of Scrabble. Let’s see “facebook” do that.

Update: Merriam-Webster has announced this year’s winner: w00t. Facebook found itself in the familiar position of second place, and my beloved “quixotic” managed a fourth place showing.

About ReadWrite’s Editorial Process

The ReadWrite Editorial policy involves closely monitoring the tech industry for major developments, new product launches, AI breakthroughs, video game releases and other newsworthy events. Editors assign relevant stories to staff writers or freelance contributors with expertise in each particular topic area. Before publication, articles go through a rigorous round of editing for accuracy, clarity, and to ensure adherence to ReadWrite's style guidelines.

Get the biggest tech headlines of the day delivered to your inbox

    By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. Unsubscribe anytime.

    Tech News

    Explore the latest in tech with our Tech News. We cut through the noise for concise, relevant updates, keeping you informed about the rapidly evolving tech landscape with curated content that separates signal from noise.

    In-Depth Tech Stories

    Explore tech impact in In-Depth Stories. Narrative data journalism offers comprehensive analyses, revealing stories behind data. Understand industry trends for a deeper perspective on tech's intricate relationships with society.

    Expert Reviews

    Empower decisions with Expert Reviews, merging industry expertise and insightful analysis. Delve into tech intricacies, get the best deals, and stay ahead with our trustworthy guide to navigating the ever-changing tech market.