Brat – popularised by singer Charli XCX – has been named Collins word of the year.
It’s the title of the UK singer’s sixth album and the dictionary company says it inspired a lifestyle “characterised by a confident, independent, and hedonistic attitude”.
Being called brat in this sense is likely to be a compliment.
Some entertainment critics and journalists have said it’s the rejection of the “clean girl” aesthetic on TikTok that’s based on ideals of groomed femininity.
Lexicographers at Collins trawled the media and their database and put brat number one as it’s been “embraced so widely” and is “one of the most talked about words of 2024”.
For many however, the word will still conjure up its more established meaning – a badly behaved or ill-mannered child.
Other words on the list include era, inspired by Taylor Swift’s hugely successful tour; yapping – talking at length about inconsequential things; and delulu, meaning utterly mistaken or unrealistic in one’s ideas or expectations.
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Rawdogging also appears on the word of the year list.
It refers to spending a long flight simply staring at the seat in front without any distractions, and sometimes forgoing food, drink and the toilet as well – not something doctors recommend.
It follows a TikTok trend that Manchester City star Erling Haaland also participated in.
Alex Beecroft, managing director of Collins, said: “With many of this year’s notable words being popularised by generations Z and Alpha, we can confidently say this is the most ‘brat’ Word of the Year list ever.”
Last year’s list put AI, the abbreviation of artificial intelligence, at number one, while “nepo baby” and semaglutide were also among the picks.