The Oxford English Dictionary has named rage bait as its word of the year 2025, according to the Oxford University Press website.
Rage bait is online content that is intentionally created to provoke anger or outrage. Such content can be provocative or offensive, and is often published to increase traffic or engagement with a particular website or social media account.
The term has tripled in usage over the past year. It first appeared in 2022 on Usenet. It was then used to describe a specific type of driver’s reaction to another driver flashing their headlights, asking them to let them pass.
Other words on the Oxford Dictionary’s shortlist include:
- aura farming (literally, earning aura). This is the name given to a way of presenting a charismatic person to convey an air of confidence, mystery, or coolness.
- biohacking. A way of improving the human body or extending lifespan through physical activity, changes in diet and lifestyle, or the use of drugs, specific supplements, or gadgets.