Scrolling through silly or nonsensical social media posts can have an unofficial side effect: "brain rot." Why it matters: It's a phrase Oxford University Press said "gained new prominence in 2024" — so much so that Oxford dubbed the term its word of the year.

There’s a name for that feeling you get after spending too long scrolling aimlessly, and Oxford University Press (OUP) has chosen it as its word for the year for 2024. “Brain rot” took the title in a vote in which more than 37,000 people participated, as well as public commentary and analysis of OUP’s language data.

"Brain rot" is the 2024 word of the year according to Oxford University Press, which publishes the Oxford English Dictionary.

Oxford University Press narrowed a list down to six words and the world had the opportunity to vote for its top choice.

Do you find yourself endlessly scrolling unchallenging content on social media? This year's Oxford word of the year could describe your exact situation.

Oxford University Press, publisher of the Oxford English Dictionary, has just released its 2024 Word of the Year. And it's not one you may have expected. Overall, there was a shortlist of six words that language experts created to reflect the moods and conversations that helped shape the past year—and coming in at the top is 'brain rot'.

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Oxford University Press has named “brain rot” its word of the year. It's defined as “the supposed deterioration of a person’s mental or intellectual state,” especially from consuming too much low-grade online content.

Oxford University Press has named 'brain rot' as its word of the year 2024, following a public vote of more than 37,000 people around the world.

Oxford University Press, the publisher of the Oxford English Dictionary, enlisted the help of more than 37,000 people to vote for a winning word from a shortlist of six words. It defined "brain rot" as the "supposed deterioration of a person's mental or intellectual state,

Many of us have felt it, and now it's official: "brain rot" is the Oxford dictionaries' word of the year. Oxford University Press said Monday that the evocative phrase "gained new prominence in 2024."