The Council of Polish Linguists has named “drone” the word of the year 2025. According to experts, this word most accurately conveys the events and moods that dominated Poland during the year. The three finalists also included “space” and “veto”.
According to linguist Jerzy Bralczyk, “drone” has ceased to be a neutral technical term and has acquired an alarming meaning. He noted that this word has become a symbol of 2025, reflecting key themes of security and international tension.
In parallel, an online vote was held among Internet users, with almost 1,400 participants. In this rating, “space” took first place, “drone” took second place, and “veto” took third place. The competition’s organizer, as usual, was the University of Warsaw.
The choice of the word of the year coincided with events that attracted special attention in Polish society. In particular, in September, Poland for the first time recorded and shot down Russian drones that violated its airspace during Russia’s massive attack on Ukraine. At that time, airport operations were suspended, and the authorities called the incident an act of aggression.
In Poland, the word of the year has been determined for about 15 years. The project aims to show which topics and events were most important for society. Linguists and journalists, as well as Internet users, make their own decisions.