Australia Chooses ‘Enshittification’ as Word of the Year

Vonbon Hill

less than a minute read

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27-11-2024

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Australia's love affair with colourful language continues, with the somewhat pungent "enshittification" claiming the title of Word of the Year for 2024, as announced by the Australian National Dictionary Centre (ANDC). This isn't your grandmother's choice for lexical excellence. But what does it even mean? And why did it resonate so strongly with the Australian public?

Decoding the "Enshittification" Enigma

The word itself is a blend of "en-" (meaning "to cause to become") and "shittification" (the process of becoming shit, or worse). Essentially, it describes the deliberate or gradual degradation of something, rendering it worse or less functional. This can apply to anything from public services and infrastructure to the broader social fabric.

The ANDC highlighted the word's versatility and its ability to capture a pervasive sense of frustration and disillusionment. It reflects a growing cynicism about the state of various institutions and systems, a feeling that things are actively being made worse, rather than simply declining through neglect.

Why Now? A Timely Choice

The selection of "enshittification" as Word of the Year comes at a time of significant social and political upheaval, both in Australia and globally. Increasingly, Australians are expressing concerns about:

• Cost of living pressures: Rising inflation and stagnant wages are leading to widespread hardship.
• Environmental degradation: The impact of climate change and the failure to adequately address environmental concerns are fueling anxiety.
• Political polarization: Increasing division and distrust in political institutions are eroding public faith.

These issues are all, arguably, examples of "enshittification" in action. The word provides a powerful, if somewhat crude, vehicle for articulating these widespread feelings.

More Than Just a Buzzword

While the word's bluntness might raise eyebrows, its popularity reflects a deeper societal unease. It's not merely a trendy insult; it's a symptom of broader anxieties about the state of the nation and a collective feeling that things are being actively undermined. The choice of "enshittification" by the ANDC is a testament to the power of language to capture the zeitgeist and articulate the frustrations of a nation. It remains to be seen if the word will achieve widespread use beyond 2024, but its selection as Word of the Year is undeniably noteworthy.