The Macquarie Dictionary has announced “enshittification” as its word of the year for 2024, defining it as the gradual deterioration of a service or product. Coined by Canadian author Cory Doctorow in 2022, the word beat out contenders like “rawdogging” and “brainrot” to win both the committee’s choice and the People’s Choice award.
In a statement, the dictionary issued a language warning, emphasizing its recognition of all forms of Australian English, including taboo words and meanings. The committee described “enshittification” as a basic Anglo-Saxon term elevated by affixes to almost formal and respectable status, capturing the feeling of deterioration in various aspects of life.
The dictionary’s definition of the word focuses on the decline of service quality due to profit-seeking motives, particularly in online platforms. Doctorow elaborated on the process of enshittification, highlighting the shift from user-friendly platforms to profit-driven practices that ultimately harm both users and business customers.
Honorable mentions were given to “rawdogging,” referring to entertainment-free long-haul flights, and “right to disconnect,” a law granting employees the freedom from work-related contact outside of working hours. The People’s Choice recognized “brainrot” as low-quality content and “social battery” as a supposed reserve for social interactions.
Since 2006, Macquarie Dictionary has been naming a word of the year, with “enshittification” being only the third word to win both the committee’s and the People’s Choice awards.
