Merriam-Webster’s 2025 word of the year takes aim at poor AI content

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Merriam-Webster recently named “slop” as its word of the year, referring to low-quality digital content typically produced by artificial intelligence.
The dictionary defines “slop” as a term for digital content of low quality, often exemplified by absurd videos and AI-generated outputs like talking cats and books.
“Slop” is the latest in a series of dictionary word-of-the-year selections focused on technology and artificial intelligence, reflecting contemporary societal concerns.
The word evolved from its 18th-century meaning of “soft mud” to “food waste” and then broadly to mean “rubbish” or “worthless product.”
Merriam-Webster’s statement humorously suggested that “slop” conveys a message to AI about its limitations in replacing human creativity.
Other candidates for word of the year included “gerrymander,” “touch grass,” and “performative,” each reflecting significant trends in politics, real-world engagement, and social behavior.
Last year’s choice was “polarization” to describe sharply divided views in American politics, and 2023 saw “authentic” selected due to rising online searches about AI and identity.

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