Merriam-Webster Announces “Authentic” as Word of the Year for 2023, Reflecting a Crisis of Authenticity in the Age of Deepfakes and Post-Truth.

Merriam-Webster has announced that the Word of the Year for 2023 is “authentic.” According to Peter Sokolowski, editor at large for the dictionary company, lookups for the word have been consistently high on their website, but have been boosted to new heights this year.

Sokolowski and his team have not delved into the reasons why people have been searching for the word, but he believes that it is due to a “crisis of authenticity” in the age of deepfakes and post-truth, as artificial intelligence rises and Elon Musk turns Twitter into X. He believes that when people question authenticity, they value it even more.

Authenticity is a complex concept, as it can be seen as both a virtue and a form of artifice. It is a quality that is highly valued in our society, and is often used to describe a person’s character or a product’s quality. It is also a concept that has been explored in literature and philosophy for centuries.

The Merriam-Webster Word of the Year is a reflection of the current cultural and political climate, and this year’s choice of “authentic” is no exception. It is a reminder of the importance of truth and integrity in our society, and a call to action to seek out and value authenticity in all aspects of life.