Merriam-Webster's word of the year is 'culture'

The results are in: Merriam-Webster has chosen its 2014 word of the year, and the winner is "culture."

The dictionary editors chose the word based on its spike in lookups over the past year, noting phrases like "rape culture" and "celebrity culture" as examples of the word's use. Other words that spiked in popularity this year include "nostalgia" and "feminism."

"'Culture' is a word that we seem to be relying on more and more. It allows us to identify and isolate an idea, issue, or group with seriousness," Peter Sokolowski, editor-at-large for Merriam-Webster, said in a statement. "And it's efficient: we talk about the 'culture' of a group rather than saying 'the typical habits, attitudes, and behaviors' of that group."

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