Merriam-Webster's word of the year? Surreal.

Merriam Webster's word of the year.
(Image credit: iStock)

Merriam-Webster's word of the year hits the nail on the head when it comes to encapsulating 2016. The dictionary's pick, unveiled Monday, is the word "surreal," which Merriam-Webster defines as "marked by the intense irrational reality of a dream," or "unbelievable, fantastic."

"It just seems like one of those years," Peter Sokolowski, Merriam-Webster's editor at large, said of the choice. Though searches for the word surged at several points in 2016, Sokolowski said the biggest spike was on Nov. 9, the day after Donald Trump won the presidential election.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

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.

Sign up
To continue reading this article...
Continue reading this article and get limited website access each month.
Get unlimited website access, exclusive newsletters plus much more.
Cancel or pause at any time.
Already a subscriber to The Week?
Not sure which email you used for your subscription? Contact us