BuzzLine: Word of the Year, Unfortunately

Vape. What are some things that come to mind when you hear the word “Vape?” For me, I think of Vicks VapoRub, my humidifier, or hot tubs. You know what I don’t think of when I think of “Vape?” The word of the year. This week the Oxford Dictionaries announced that the 2014 word of the year is “vape.”

“Vape: v.  To inhale and exhale the vapor produced by an electronic cigarette or similar device.”

The shortlist of words that vape beat out for the coveted title include: bae—a term of endearment for one’s romantic partner, budtender—a person who serves customers in a cannabis shop, indyref—abbreviation of “independence referendum” in reference to Scottish independence, normcore—when ordinary, unfashionable clothing is worn deliberately as a fashion statement, or slacktivism—informal actions performed via the Internet in support of a political or social issue that requires little time or involvement.

This brings us to today’s BuzzLine. In exactly six words, I want to know what YOU think the 2014 word of the year should have been. The word of your choice does not count towards the six word requirement—which you can use as a definition of your word or you can use it for your reasoning. Your answers may look something like:

• Turnt—because Turn Down for What?
• Talking—Millennial classification of dating, but unofficial
• Feminism—Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Emma Watson

Submit your answers this week and we’ll send the winner a Starbucks gift card next week. And in honor of The Mockingjay: Part I premier this weekend, “May the odds be ever in your favor!”