The 2025 Collins Dictionary Word of the Year list is a map of our modern anxieties, with new words emerging to describe our stress about work, wealth, and technology. The list includes “Henry,” “taskmasking,” “micro-retirement,” and “broligarchy,” painting a picture of a society under pressure.
Economic frustration is at the heart of “Henry,” an acronym for “high earner, not rich yet.” This term’s popularity reflects a widespread reality where high salaries are consumed by high costs, leaving many professionals feeling financially insecure. This contrasts with the “broligarchy,” the tech elite who are rich.
Workplace dissatisfaction is captured by two key terms. “Taskmasking” is the new word for faking productivity in a digital-first environment, a sign of “productivity theater” and burnout. The antidote, “micro-retirement,” also made the list, describing a deliberate career break to escape this very pressure.
These terms of stress and escape form the cultural backdrop for the 2025 Word of the Year: “vibe coding.” This AI term, for using natural language to create code, represents the very technology that is disrupting these workplaces and economies.
The list also included the public’s direct response to this tech: “clanker,” a derogatory term for AI. Together, the 2025 words tell a story of a public grappling with the economic and social fallout of a technological revolution.