The term “brat” has become ubiquitous in recent months and has now officially been named Collins Dictionary’s word of the year. Defined as someone with a “confident, independent, and hedonistic attitude,” its rise to prominence can be traced back to Charli XCX, whose sixth studio album is titled Brat.
Originally introduced as the name of her number one album, “brat” has evolved into a cultural phenomenon, with many embracing this lifestyle. Even the team for U.S. presidential candidate Kamala Harris rebranded her social media presence with a “brat” theme to engage younger voters at the beginning of her campaign this summer.
The lexicographers at Collins, who compile their dictionaries by examining social media and various sources, selected “brat” for their annual list of notable new words. Charli’s album, released in June, has gained traction not only through its original tracks but also via remixes, with the song “Guess” achieving significant commercial success. It reached number one in August after a remix featuring Billie Eilish was launched.
In Charli’s words, a “brat” embodies a girl who “has a breakdown but kind of parties through it,” characterized by honesty, bluntness, and a touch of volatility. She described the typical “brat” as someone who might carry “a pack of cigs, a Bic lighter, and a strappy white top with no bra.”
The aesthetic surrounding “brat” has gained popularity on TikTok, where Charli’s “brat girl summer” serves as a counter to other trends, such as the “clean girl” image, which emphasizes a feminine and polished appearance. The “brat” lifestyle is also about embracing hedonism and rebellion, drawing inspiration from Charli’s early experiences performing at underground raves, contrasting sharply with more wholesome, home-centered trends.
This year’s list also includes the term “era,” inspired by Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, which visited the UK and Europe. Collins defines it as “a period of one’s life or career that is of a distinctive character.”
Many of the words featured on this year’s list have been popularized by Generation Z (those born between 1995 and 2012) and even Generation Alpha, the youngest of whom are only 10 or 11 years old. Social media platforms like TikTok and Snapchat have played a significant role in the proliferation of new words and phrases, according to Collins.
Other additions to the list include “yapping,” referring to lengthy discussions about trivial matters, and “delulu,” which describes unrealistic expectations. Despite being a year filled with elections globally, only one political term, “supermajority,” made it onto the list. This term denotes a “large majority in a legislative assembly that enables a government to pass laws without effective scrutiny,” and gained traction during the UK general election in July.
