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Word of the Year 2010

The Committee’s choice of Word of the Year 2010 is:

googleganger

noun a person with the same name as oneself, whose online references are mixed with one’s own among search results for one’s name.

[google + (doppel)ganger ]

 

The Committee would like to give honourable mention to:

vuvuzela

noun a plastic horn (def. 13), up to one metre in length, which emits a loud buzzing sound; commonly played in South Africa by fans at soccer games.

[? Zulu vuvu to make a noise]

 

The Macquarie Dictionary Word of the Year Committee comprises:

Dr Michael Spence, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sydney
Professor Stephen Garton, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, University of Sydney
Evan Hannah, Group Editorial General Manager, News Ltd.
Les Murray, renowned Australian poet
Susan Butler, Publisher of the Macquarie Dictionary

 

The People’s Choice Award for 2010 goes to:

shockumentary

noun (plural shockumentaries

1. a documentary film or television show featuring footage of accidents or violence.

2. a documentary film or television show which gives damaging information about government bodies, industries, etc., often presented in such a way as to magnify the inherent shock value of the facts.

[shock1 + (doc)umentary] 

 

Category winners:

Agriculture aquaponics
Arts, Literature, Theatre               shockumentary
Business presenteeism
Colloquial gym bunny
Communications fauxmance
Computing email fatigue / googleganger                      
Crops superfood
Eating and Drinking screwage
Environment flying cane toad
Fashion vajazzle
General Interest vuvuzela
Health binge listening
Internet camel case
Politics sandbagging
Psychology neurosexism
Social Interest self-gift
Sport rail trail
Technology pocket-dial

Download the pdf below to view all the entries considered for Word of the Year 2010.

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