Dictionary.com has named ’67’ (pronounced ‘six-seven’), the notoriously slippery slang of Gen Alpha, as its 2025 Word of the Year, marking a pivotal moment where linguistic meaning takes a backseat to social connection and digital absurdity.
Every year, Dictionary.com’s selection for its Word of the Year aims to encapsulate the evolving landscape of language and culture. These words function as linguistic time capsules, mirroring the profound social shifts and global events that have left their mark on our conversations. On October 29, 2025, the digital lexicographers at Dictionary.com unveiled their choice for the year, and it’s a term that has left many adults puzzled while resonating deeply with a new generation: 67.
This seemingly innocuous pair of numerals, pronounced “six-seven” (and crucially, never “sixty-seven”), represents a seismic shift in how meaning is conveyed and shared in the digital age. Its pervasiveness, despite its elusive definition, highlights the linguistic impact of Gen Alpha and the accelerating pace at which new slang permeates global culture.
The Data Behind the Decision: A Linguistic Phenomenon
The selection of 67 wasn’t arbitrary. Dictionary.com’s lexicographers meticulously analyzed vast amounts of data, including newsworthy headlines, social media trends, and search engine results, to pinpoint words making the most significant impact online and offline. Searches for 67 saw a dramatic surge starting in the summer of 2025, increasing more than sixfold since June, with no signs of slowing down. This stark contrast to other two-digit numbers underscored its unique cultural significance.
Steve Johnson, director of lexicography for the Dictionary Media Group at IXL Learning, noted the term’s remarkable growth. “Something that you would have thought would have gone away, it just kept on growing larger and larger, snowballing into kind of like a cultural phenomenon,” Johnson told CBS News.
What Does ’67’ Really Mean? The Paradox of Playful Absurdity
Perhaps the most defining, and frustrating, characteristic of 67 is its deliberate lack of concrete meaning. While some attempt to define it as “so-so” or “maybe this, maybe that,” often accompanied by a signature hand gesture where both palms face up and move alternately up and down, its true power lies in its ambiguity. For many young users, it serves as a non-committal reply to almost any question, a playful jab at adults struggling to keep up with their notoriously slippery slang.
As Johnson explains, “This is really the first Word of the Year that we’ve had in a really long time that’s actually more of an interjection… it’s something that people are just shouting and saying, and that in itself is pretty novel and pretty spectacular.” This dynamic usage transforms 67 into a potent social signal, a badge of belonging within an in-group, where knowledge of the term, and its emerging spin-offs like “six-sendy” and “41,” signifies cultural currency.
Dictionary.com’s definition embraces this fluidity, describing 67 as an example of “brainrot slang,” intended to be “nonsensical and playfully absurd.” It captures the essence of being perpetually online, scrolling endlessly, and consuming algorithmically generated content, leaving users with a shared, yet undefinable, linguistic artifact. Despite its meaninglessness, it remains profoundly meaningful to its users through the connections it fosters and the generational identity it signifies.
The Genesis of a Viral Sensation
The precise origin of 67 is debated, but its rapid ascent can be traced through key digital touchpoints. The term is widely believed to have originated from the 2024 drill song “Doot Doot (6 7)” by rapper Skrilla. Some speculate the “67” in the song refers to Philadelphia’s 67th Street, Skrilla’s hometown, though this remains unconfirmed as of October 28, 2025, according to Know Your Meme.
Soon after the song’s release, viral TikToks and Instagram clips emerged, pairing the “Doot Doot (6 7)” audio with basketball visuals. A notable instance involved a video featuring NBA player LaMelo Ball, whose 6-foot-7-inch stature provided an immediate, albeit coincidental, link to the numbers. This connection to the sports world further fueled its spread.
However, it was the “67 Kid” meme that cemented its place in internet lore. A video featuring a young boy excitedly shouting “6-7” with the distinctive hand gesture during an Amateur Athletic Union basketball game became an instant viral sensation. This clip, among others featuring overtime elite player Taylen “TK” Kinney, propelled 67 into widespread public consciousness, leading to its adoption by NBA and WNBA teams, NFL players incorporating the gesture into touchdown celebrations, and even a playful acknowledgment from basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal.
The term’s cultural penetration reached new heights with its appearance in a recent episode of “South Park.” In the Season 28 premiere, the character Butters Scotch famously uses 67 in jokes and interjections, with his friends mirroring the hand movement. This mainstream parody, as reported by USA Today, signals the term’s profound influence on contemporary culture.
The Generational Tug-of-War: Adults vs. Alpha
The adoption of 67 vividly illustrates the linguistic divide between generations. While Gen Alpha embraces it as a form of expression and in-group identity, many parents and teachers find themselves in a familiar state of vexation. Teachers, in particular, have been observed trading tips online on how to manage its ubiquitous use in classrooms, with some even playfully incorporating it into their lessons to maintain student engagement, as seen with kindergarten teacher Sara James.
Steve Johnson notes this generational split in reactions. For the younger generation, it’s “flexing their linguistic muscles and making a pretty phenomenal impact on the English language.” For older generations, especially those daily encountering the random shouts of “six-seven,” reactions are likely a mix of “groans” and a resigned “well, this tracks.”
Beyond ’67’: The 2025 Word of the Year Shortlist
While 67 captured the top spot, Dictionary.com’s selection process highlighted several other influential words and phrases that shaped conversations in 2025. These nominees offer a broader snapshot of the year’s cultural, technological, and political currents:
- Agentic: Traditionally used in psychology, this term has evolved in 2025 to describe AI technologies capable of autonomous action and independent decision-making, reflecting growing concerns about machine intelligence.
- Aura farming: Combining “aura” (personal energy) and “farming” (cultivation), this term refers to the intentional development of one’s public presence or “vibe,” often for social media attention. It crystallized around the viral “boat kid” meme.
- Broligarchy: A blend of “bro” and “oligarchy,” this political neologism gained traction around events like Donald Trump’s January inauguration, capturing public frustration with concentrated power among a small, homogenous elite.
- Clanker: Once a sci-fi term for robots, “clanker” has been repurposed as a mocking label for AI systems and chatbots, embodying cultural unease with intelligent machines.
- 🧨 Dynamite emoji (TNT, Taylor ‘n’ Travis): This emoji took on a new, playful meaning in 2025, becoming shorthand for the engaged celebrity couple Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce (“T ‘n’ T”), symbolizing their powerful and endearing relationship.
- Gen Z stare: A blank or expressionless look attributed to members of Generation Z, particularly in workplace or retail settings, often used playfully in intergenerational discourse.
- Kiss cam: This traditional stadium staple gained new life from a viral clip of two executives awkwardly reacting on a kiss cam at a Coldplay concert, becoming shorthand for public exposure and digital schadenfreude.
- Overtourism: This term saw renewed relevance as global travel resumed post-pandemic, referring to the overwhelming influx of visitors to popular destinations, causing environmental strain and local frustration.
- Tariff: Reemerging as a focal point in political and economic discussions, “tariff” gained new political weight in 2025, reflecting its use as a tool of diplomacy and national strategy amid renewed trade tensions.
- Tradwife: Short for “traditional wife,” this term gained renewed attention, evolving beyond a conservative subculture to describe an aesthetic that sparks debate about gender roles in modern digital culture.
’67’: A Reflection of Our Evolving Language
The choice of 67 as Dictionary.com’s 2025 Word of the Year is more than just a nod to popular slang; it’s a testament to the dynamic and often unpredictable nature of language. It highlights how a rising generation, fluent in digital communication and meme culture, can rapidly introduce and disseminate new terms that challenge traditional notions of meaning and definition. In an increasingly connected world, 67 serves as a powerful reminder of the speed at which language evolves and the unique ways we find to connect and express ourselves in the ever-changing global conversation.
