Merriam-Webster Picks “Polarization” as 2024 Word of the Year

A word that’s truly magnetic—pulling people apart rather than bringing them together.

“Polarization” earned its spot as a buzzword, finding favor in political debates, social conversations, and religious discourses. It’s a term that perfectly captures the pole-apart dynamics of our times.

But is this an empowering embrace of free expression or a passport to extremes? Take, for instance, the divide between vaxxers and anti-vaxxers during the pandemic. Polarization turned family dinners into debate arenas and friend circles into battlegrounds.

In that sense, polarization often dons the villain’s cape, sharpening divisions and sowing discord. Yet, on the flip side, it can act as a catalyst for robust debates and a diversity of viewpoints—essential ingredients for a thriving democracy and evolving society.

Whether a hero or a villain, “polarization” is a word that refuses to sit in the middle ground—and maybe that’s the most fitting reflection of our times.

Promod Puri

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