“Bailout And “Change” Named Words Of The Year For 2008

The economic crisis has led to “bailout” being the most looked-up word according to Merriam-Webster.  Global Language Monitor lists “change” at the top of its list.   

[Merrriam-Webster publisher John Morse] said the presidential campaign also produced voluminous hits for words like “vet,” which ranked second in the 2008 list, “bipartisan,” “misogyny,” and the word used to describe both candidates on the Republican ticket, “maverick.”

“Socialism” was an often-searched-for word (thanks to how conservatives misrepresented it during the presidential campaign), as were the words “trepidation,” “precipice,” “rogue,” and “turmoil.” 

Global Language Monitor uses an algorithm to track words and phrases on the Internet and in the media, tags “Obamamania,” “greenwashing,” “surge,” “derivative,” “subprime,” and “foreclosure,” as being the most popular, followed by “Phelpsian,” referring to swimmer Michael Phelps.

What are your favorite words of the year?

By: Alan

Alan Colmes is the publisher of Liberaland.