Collins Dictionary has unveiled its 2025 Word of the Year, with the AI-driven term “vibe coding” taking the top honor. The full list of 10 words, compiled by lexicographers from a 24-billion-word corpus, provides a comprehensive snapshot of the year’s cultural and technological shifts.
The winner, “vibe coding,” describes using natural language and AI to create software, making coding more intuitive. It was coined by AI expert Andrej Karpathy.
It beat “clanker,” a derogatory term for AI and robots from Star Wars that has been adopted by a public frustrated with chatbots and automation.
The list also featured “biohacking,” the activity of altering one’s natural bodily processes to improve health and longevity.
A term for the tech elite, “broligarchy,” also made the list, noting the power of “tech bros” following their high-profile political appearances.
In the social sphere, “glaze” (to flatter excessively) and “aura farming” (deliberately cultivating a cool persona) highlight online social dynamics.
Economic anxieties were represented by “Henry,” an acronym for “high earner, not rich yet.”
Finally, the list captured new approaches to work and leisure with “taskmasking” (faking productivity), “coolcation” (a holiday to a cold climate), and “micro-retirement” (a break between jobs).