2015's word of the year, according to Merriam-Webster's editors, is a three-letter suffix: "-ism." The editors say there have been huge spikes in searches for words ending with the suffix this year, including "socialism, fascism, racism, feminism, communism, capitalism, and terrorism," CBS News reports.
"These words reveal our curiosity and our engagement,” editor-at-large Peter Sokolowski said. "We're looking at the news through the prism of vocabulary. A definition can be the beginning of reflection. This year, we've certainly had a lot on our minds."
Article continues belowThe Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Other popular lookups this year include the words marriage, hypocrite, respect, inspiration, and minion.