A word that has been used incessantly to describe the fraught state of American politics and society is Merriam-Webster’s 2024 word of year. That word is “polarization.”

The dictionary publisher said Americans from competing tribes looked up the definition to better understand divided politics at home and worldwide.

With less than a month left until January, Merriam-Webster has chosen its 2024 Word of the Year, one that has often defined the political landscape of the United States and its candidates. The word, the book company reported,

Merriam-Webster’s top 10 most-searched words in 2024 reflect the year’s key cultural moments and news events. In the face of the nation’s divisions, the dictionary remains “a kind of backstop for meaning,

The results of the 2024 U.S. presidential election rattled the country and sent shockwaves across the world — or were cause for celebration, depending on who you ask. Is it any surprise then that the Merriam-Webster word of the year is “polarization”?

Following a contentious presidential election, Merriam-Webster has chosen its word of the year for 2024: “polarization.” The American dictionary publisher announced its selection today, defining the term as “division into two sharply distinct opposites.

Merriam-Webster named "polarization" its 2024 Word of the Year on Monday, citing its prominence in describing the political landscape of the 2024 presidential election.

Polarization is defined by Merriam-Webster as “division into two sharply distinct opposites.” It's been "an honor to have been in your homes," the departing cable news host said in a surprising farewell.

Merriam-Webster has chosen “polarization” as its Word of the Year for 2024. This selection comes on the heels of a highly contested U.S. presidential election, which captured global attention. Merriam-Webster.