Dictionary.com has crowned “67” — pronounced six-seven — as its Word of the Year for 2025, sparking both fascination and bewilderment online.
The numerical slang, popular among Gen Alpha users, has become a viral fixture across TikTok, memes, and school hallways over the past year.
According to the platform, “67” emerged from the song Doot Doot (6 7) by artist Skrilla and evolved into a widely used phrase after a string of internet memes connected to basketball culture and a child dubbed “the 67 Kid.”
Within weeks, teachers were reportedly discussing ways to curb the phrase’s overuse in classrooms.
Dictionary.com defines “67” as an intentionally ambiguous expression — often used when someone wants to sound uncertain or noncommittal.
Its meaning ranges loosely from “so-so” to “maybe,” though it often shifts with context.
The platform said the term’s power lies in its lack of fixed meaning, reflecting how digital culture fosters new, fluid forms of language.
“The most defining feature of ‘67’ is that it’s impossible to define,” the site said in its statement.
“It’s meaningless, ubiquitous, and nonsensical — yet deeply representative of how online culture shapes communication today.”
The 2025 shortlist also included buzzwords such as Aura Farming, Broligarchy, Tradwife, Tariff, and Overtourism, along with the “dynamite” (TNT) emoji, which gained popularity after Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s engagement, symbolising what fans called their “explosive” relationship.
But the announcement of “67” as Word of the Year triggered a wave of confusion and amusement on social media. Many users questioned how a number could qualify as a word.
One X (formerly Twitter) user posted, “‘67’ as Word of the Year is wild. We’ve reached the point where memes are becoming vocabulary.” Another joked, “These are numbers, not words. What’s next, 789 as Word of the Year?”
In a detailed blog post, Dictionary.com traced the slang’s rise to videos linking Skrilla’s track with NBA star LaMelo Ball, whose 6’7” height became part of the meme’s visual motif.
The expression is often paired with a gesture where both palms face upward and move alternately — a defining feature of Gen Alpha humour.
The site described “67” as a form of “brainrot slang” — language intentionally absurd, fast-evolving, and rooted in online absurdism.
