4th December, 2023
By Victoria Oluwayemi
The Oxford University Press, publisher of the Oxford English Dictionary, has selected “rizz” as the word of the year for 2023.
Rizz refers to style, charm, or attractiveness, often associated with one’s ability to attract a romantic or sexual partner.
It’s believed to be a shortened version of “charisma,” similar to how “fridge” derives from “refrigerator” or “flu” from “influenza.” The term is also used as a verb, like “to rizz up,” indicating the act of attracting, seducing, or engaging someone in conversation.
Primarily found in social media discourse, this word resonates strongly with younger generations, particularly Gen Z, shaping their unique language spaces online and offline.
Oxford University Press highlighted rizz as a fascinating example of language formation within communities before gaining wider usage, showcasing how younger generations establish and own the language they use.
Casper Grathwohl, President of Oxford Languages, emphasized that words originating from internet culture are increasingly becoming part of everyday language, a trend expected to persist and influence linguistic evolution.
The term spiked in popularity when actor Tom Holland referenced it in a Buzzfeed interview, stating he had “no rizz whatsoever.” Notably, Tinder introduced a “rizz-first redesign” to appeal to younger users.
Among the finalists for Oxford’s Word of the Year 2023 were phrases like beige flag, Swiftie, de-influencing, prompt, heat dome, situationship, and parasocial, with rizz ultimately emerging as the #WOTY23.
Grathwohl expressed appreciation for the public’s involvement in the Word of the Year selection, recognizing the significance of language in understanding identity and processing global events.
Additionally, Merriam-Webster and Collins Dictionary also acknowledged rizz, with Collins naming “artificial intelligence” as its word of 2023 in November.