Oxford Languages, the creator of the Oxford English Dictionary, announced 'goblin mode' as the 2022 Word of the Year after it won over 93% of the vote.
The term is relatively new, entering the English lexicon in 2009 and only becoming famous in 2022. The slang term is defined as a "type of behaviour which is unapologetically self-indulgent, lazy, slovenly, or greedy, typically in a way that rejects social norms or expectations."
This was the first year that Oxford Languages asked the public to vote for the Word of the Year, and they had a choice between three words; 'goblin mode', 'metaverse', and '#IStandWith'.
Over 300,000 people voted over two weeks, with an overwhelming majority favouring 'goblin mode'.
The term started gaining traction after the easing of Covid-19 restrictions led to a growing movement online to reject the idea of returning to normal life, rebelling against the “increasingly unattainable aesthetic stands and unsustainable lifestyles exhibited on social media.”