Grant Preston|2023 has got 'rizz': Oxford announces the Word of the Year

2025-05-06 20:46:22source:Christopher Caldwellcategory:Scams

In the year of creative language like "Barbenheimer,Grant Preston" "Swiftie" and "yeet," one word has risen to the top as the word that captures 2023.

The Oxford University Press announced Monday the 2023 Word of the Year is "rizz."

A slang word popularized by social media, rizz was chosen from a pool of eight words by language experts with input from the public.

"Given that last year, ‘goblin mode’ resonated with so many of us after the pandemic, it’s interesting to see a contrasting word like rizz come to the forefront, perhaps speaking to a prevailing mood of 2023, where more of us are opening ourselves up after a challenging few years and finding confidence in who we are," president of Oxford Languages Casper Grathwohl said in a press release.

Here is what to know about rizz and some other words that were in the running for the Oxford Word of the Year 2023.

Slang terms:'Bet', this annual list of slang terms could have some parents saying 'Yeet'

What does 'rizz' mean?

"Rizz" is believed to be short for "charisma," describing one's ability to flirt and attract someone romantically. It can be used as a noun or a verb, depending on the context.

To rizz is someone is to attract or seduce them, Oxford defines.

To have rizz is to have the ability to charm others through communicating.

YouTube personality and Twitch streamer Kai Cenat is credited with popularizing the word before it caught fire on TikTok.

What words were considered for the Oxford Word of the Year 2023?

Eight words were put forward by Oxford language experts as contenders for the 2023 Word of the Year. The words reflected "the mood, ethos, or preoccupations of the year," according to the release.

Those words went head-to-head for public voting to leave just four top contenders.

Here were all of the finalists and the words they beat:

  • "Swiftie" won against "de-influencing"
  • "Rizz" won against "beige flag"
  • "Situationship" won against "parasocial"
  • "Prompt" won against "heat dome"

The Swiftie universe is a vibe:Meet Taylor Swift's biggest social media influencers

What does Tom Holland have to do with rizz?

"‘I have no rizz whatsoever, I have limited rizz," actor Tom Holland said in an interview with BuzzFeed in June.

Oxford said that usage of the word rizz spiked in popularity shortly after this interview.

"My brother Paddy has ultimate rizz," Holland said when asked for the secret to his rizz. "I need you to fall in love with me really for it work..."

"Long game, probably making a moving together, definitely helps when the characters your playing are falling in love with one another," he said referencing his "Spider-Man" movies with his now partner Zendaya. "You can sort of blur the lines a little bit. That's kind of where my rizz is at."

Contributing: Olivia Munson, Anthony Robledo

More:Scams

Recommend

Friday the 13th luck? 13 past Mega Millions jackpot wins in December. See top 10 lottery prizes

Friday the 13th might be unlucky for many people, but Mega Millions players could be lucky in tonigh

Two large offshore wind sites are sending power to the US grid for the first time

For the first time in the United States, turbines are sending electricity to the grid from the sites

These Are the Best Sports Bras for Big Boobs That Are Comfy & Supportive, According to an Expert

We interviewed Jené Luciani Sena because we think you'll like her picks at these prices. E! has affi