The Oxford English Dictionary has named ‘goblin mode’ its word of the year. The slang term seems like an odd choice for an organisation as prestigious as the OED to choose, but it may be an accurate reflection of the times we live in. So, if you’re not sure what Goblin Mode means, here’s an explainer.
What Does Goblin Mode Mean?
Since it’s a slang term, Goblin Mode doesn’t have one set definition. It has been described as ‘the opposite of trying to better yourself’ as well as ‘a type of behavior which is unapologetically self-indulgent.’ More or less, the word describes living a messy and hedonistic lifestyle where you give little regard to social norms or your own appearance.
When you activate Goblin Mode, you might eat in bed, scroll social media endlessly or binge watch TV until late at night, and not bother with showering. It’s a pushback towards the picture-perfect, aesthetically curated, healthy lifestyles that are promoted all over social media.
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The popularity of Goblin Mode might also have to do with post-pandemic life. After long periods of isolation, many people aren’t feeling the motivation to be their most productive or respectable selves every day. Instead, by embracing their inner goblin, they’re acknowledging the lasting impacts of the pandemic in a humorous way.
It’s a form of self care to drop the pressures of being a human once in a while and indulge yourself. By sharing that with the world, it also lets other people on the Internet know that they’re not the only one who does this.
What Have Been OED’s Past Words Of The Year?
This year was the first year that Oxford allowed for public voting on the word of the year. Over 300,000 people voted, bringing goblin mode to a landslide victory against this year’s other contenders, metaverse and #IStandWith. The candidates are chosen through Oxford’s language research programme, which identifies the emergence of new vocabulary. Here are the words that Oxford has chosen for each year in the past.
2021: vax
2020: no single word chosen
2019: climate emergency
2018: toxic
2017: youthquake
2016: post-truth
2015: the cry-laughing emoji
2014: vape
2013: selfie
2012: omnishambles
2011: squeezed middle
2010: big society
2009: simples
2008: credit crunch
2007: carbon footprint
2006: bovvered
2005: sudoku
2004: chav
See also: Merriam Webster Word Of The Year And What It’s Been Before