"Lockdown" has been named as the Collins Dictionary Word Of The Year 2020 at a time when dozens of previously uncommon words have become everyday because of coronavirus, Sky News reports. Collins's lexicographers registered over a quarter of a million usages of lockdown during 2020, against only 4,000 the previous year. The annual 10-strong list of additions is dominated by words and phrases relating to the pandemic, including furlough, key worker, self-isolate and social distancing. Key worker has seen a 60-fold increase in usage reflecting the importance attributed to professions considered to be essential to society. Helen Newstead, language content consultant at Collins, said: "Language is a reflection of the world around us and 2020 has been dominated by the global pandemic.

Source: The Standard November 10, 2020 09:22 UTC