Dictionary.com has chosen “67” as its Word of the Year for 2025, describing it as a reflection of the social trends and online culture that have shaped the year.
The platform called the expression an example of “brainrot slang” a form of deliberately absurd language that has become popular among internet users, particularly within younger generations.
Announcing the decision on Wednesday, Dictionary.com said that the annual Word of the Year selection serves as a “linguistic time capsule,” capturing the spirit, humour and cultural shifts that define the year.
The term “67” was chosen for its widespread and often ironic use across digital platforms, encapsulating how online language continues to evolve in playful and unpredictable ways.
According to Dictionary.com, “67” — pronounced “six-seven,” and never “sixty-seven” has a layered and somewhat mysterious origin. The term can be traced back to Skrilla’s 2024 song “Doot Doot (6 7),” while others have linked it to NBA player LaMelo Ball, who stands at 6 feet 7 inches tall. Despite these theories, its exact meaning remains ambiguous.
The dictionary noted that teachers and parents began noticing the term earlier this year, particularly among children and teenagers. It is often used in casual conversation to express something between “so-so,” “maybe this,” or “maybe that.”
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In some contexts, it can signal mild agreement, uncertainty or simply a sense of ironic detachment.
Adding to its popularity, a boy now known online as “The 67 Kid” went viral earlier this year after using the phrase during a youth basketball game, further cementing its place in internet culture.
Steve Johnson, Ph.D., director of lexicography for the Dictionary Media Group at IXL Learning, explained the term’s unique appeal in a press release. “It’s part inside joke, part social signal and part performance,” he said. “When people say it, they’re not just repeating a meme; they’re shouting a feeling.”
Johnson added that “67” represents a new kind of linguistic expression — one that functions as an interjection rather than a word with a fixed definition.
“It’s one of the first Words of the Year that works as a burst of energy, spreading and connecting people long before anyone agrees on what it actually means,” he said.
Dictionary.com’s analysis showed that references to “67” surged dramatically this year, with mentions in digital media appearing six times more frequently in October 2025 than during the entire year of 2024.
The choice of “67” as Word of the Year highlights how internet slang continues to blur the lines between nonsense and meaning, transforming online culture into a constantly evolving playground of shared jokes, cryptic trends and fleeting expressions that capture the mood of a generation.
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