- The word was everywhere this summer thanks to Charli XCX
- Collins Dictionary has named it as ‘word of the year’
- Taylor Swift has also influenced the new dictionary through her Eras Tour
Unless you’ve been living off-grid in a cave for the past few months, you’ll have heard the word ‘brat’ everywhere – and now a leading dictionary maker has named it as its word of the year.
New interpretation of brat
Collins Dictionary has given the word the accolade, but noted that it was Charli XCX’s interpretation – someone with a confident, independent and hedonistic attitude – rather than the more traditional meaning of someone (usually a child or young person) who is ill-mannered or spoilt.
The Brat album was released in June, and quickly became a phenomenon on social media, with people adopting ‘brat’ as a way of life. Brat was the sixth studio album by Charli XCX, and included the song Guess, which went to number one in the UK.
When compiling the latest edition of the dictionary, lexicographers at Collins look at a variety of sources, including social media, to determine which words should make it in, or whether words have changing meanings, such as brat.
Charli XCX isn’t the only pop star to influence the new eiditon of the dictionary. Another new meaning included for an existing word was for era, which was down to Taylor Swift and her mammoth tour of the same name. Collins have added a definition of ‘a period of one’s life or career that is of a distinctive character’.
Busy time
It’s been a busy few months for Charli XCX. Last month, Charli XCX released Brat and It’s Completely Different but Also Still Brat on October 11 – a remix album of her latest record, which was released in June, to widespread critical acclaim.
Charli XCX also has a track on the soundtrack for EA FC 25, which was released in September. The football franchise contains tracks from a variety of artists including Billie Eilish, Fred again…, Kasabian and Coldplay, FKA Twigs and Catfish and the Bottlemen.
