“Authentic” beat out other contenders such as “deepfake,” “rizz” (young-people speak for charisma) and “coronation” for honors as the word that most often sent people to the dictionary. “Authentic” has several shades of meaning including “not false or imitation,” and “true to one’s own personality, spirit, or character,” Merriam-Webster said. “Although clearly a desirable quality, authentic is hard to define and subject to debate — two reasons it sends many people to the dictionary,” the publisher said in a news release. It noted that celebrities such as Taylor Swift talked this year about their interest in seeking an authentic voice or self. “I think it’s good for people to speak in their voice, as opposed to how they think they should speak,” he said.

Source: Forbes November 28, 2023 00:39 UTC