‘Fake news’ is named words of the year (honest!)

It’s been derided by the American president and accused of influencing elections.

But ‘fake news’ is today valid news after being named Collins dictionary’s Word of the Year 2017.

Usage of the term, which is defined as ‘false, often sensational, information disseminated under the guise of news reporting’, has risen by 365 per cent since 2016 and will be added to the next print edition of Collins Dictionary.

‘Fake news’ is today valid news after being named Collins dictionary’s Word of the Year 2017

While ‘fake news’ will be added to the print edition, other words that will be added to the Collins Dictionary website include ‘gender-fluid’, ‘cuffing season’ and ‘Insta’.

In his first 11 months as leader of the free world, Donald Trump has regularly claimed that news stories in the media are ‘fake news’

He even suggested he invented the word ‘fake’ last month during an interview.

He told Christian channel Trinity Broadcasting: ‘I think one of the greatest of all terms I’ve come up with is ‘fake.’

‘I guess other people have used it, perhaps, over the years, but I’ve never noticed it.’

Helen Newstead, Collins’ head of language content, said: ‘Much of this year’s list is definitely politically charged, but with a new president in the US and a snap election in the UK it is perhaps no surprise that politics continues to electrify the language.

‘Fake news’, either as a statement of fact or as an accusation, has been inescapable this year, contributing to the undermining of society’s trust in news reporting’, she added. 

Lexicographers, the people who compile dictionaries, also included ‘gender- fluid’ on their list of words of the year.

The term 'Insta', to describe things relating to the photo-sharing app Instagram, was also among the popular words added to the Collins Dictionary website

The term ‘Insta’, to describe things relating to the photo-sharing app Instagram, was also among the popular words added to the Collins Dictionary website

The phrase was defined as ‘not identifying exclusively with one gender rather than another’ and has been frequently referred to over recent months.

Its increasing popularity has been reflected by stores such as John Lewis and Mothercare who have created clothing ranges which are not labelled as specifically for ‘girls’ or ‘boys’.

‘Echo chamber’, which refers to sharing opinions in places like social media where only people with similar views will see them, also made it onto the list.

Among the most regularly used new words was ‘cuffing season’, which is the habit of single people seeking a partner for the winter months but not necessarily for a longer period.

‘Gig economy’, which describes an economy built around temporary or freelance workers and ‘Insta’, to describe things relating to the photo-sharing app Instagram, were also popular words this year.

Last year also saw a political phrase named word of the year – ‘Brexit’ was chosen by Collins following the 2016 EU referendum.

All of the new words and meanings will be added to the Collins Dictionary website and will be considered for inclusion in future print editions. 

And the runners-up include… 

Corbynmania: Fervent enthusiasm for Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.

Cuffing season: The time in autumn and winter when single people seek settled relationships rather than affairs.

Echo chamber: An environment, especially on a social media site, in which any statement is greeted with approval because it will be read only by those with similar views.

Gender-fluid: Not identifying exclusively with one gender.

Gig economy: One in which most jobs are temporary.

Unicorn: Recently launched business valued at more than one billion dollars.

 

 

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