Collins Dictionary has unveiled its 2025 list of notable words, painting a picture of a society obsessed with, and anxious about, technology. The official Word of the Year is “vibe coding,” an AI-driven software development method, but it was just one of many tech-heavy terms to make the cut.
“Vibe coding” itself refers to using artificial intelligence to translate natural language into computer code. Its selection points to a major shift where coding is becoming more accessible, moving from complex syntax to intuitive “vibes.” The term, coined by AI expert Andrej Karpathy, saw a huge spike in usage this year.
However, the list also captures the backlash to this tech saturation. “Clanker,” a derogatory term for AI and robots popularized by Star Wars, highlights public distrust of chatbots. Another term, “broligarchy,” points to the immense power wielded by the “tech bros” who own the largest global technology companies, a name that gained traction after their high-profile political appearances.
Even non-tech words on the list feel adjacent to the pressures of a digital world. “Taskmasking,” the act of pretending to be productive at work, is a direct response to modern workplace surveillance and hustle culture. Similarly, “biohacking,” the alteration of one’s body for health, often involves wearable tech and data-driven lifestyles.
From the creative promise of “vibe coding” to the social critique of “broligarchy” and the fear embodied by “clanker,” the 2025 list shows that technology is no longer a niche topic but the central force shaping our evolving language.