Entertainment30 October, 20252 min read
Dictionary.com Names Nonsensical Meme ‘6-7’ Word of the Year Despite No Clear Meaning
This article is an automated aggregation of coverage from news outlets. Our editorials offer in-depth analysis curated by the NewsCord team.
Dictionary.com named the viral slang term '6-7' as its 2025 Word of the Year. '6-7' is a nonsensical phrase popularized by Gen Alpha on TikTok and social media.
40 outlets told this the same way.
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Dictionary.com Word of the Year
Dictionary.com’s latest Word of the Year announcement crowned “6-7” (also written as “67” or “6 7”), a viral in-joke with no fixed definition but strong social signaling power. The site and many reports describe it as “meaningless” and “nonsensical,” yet meaningful to users because it forges connection, with attention and searches surging over the year.
“Dictionary.com has announced ‘6-7’ as the newest Word of the Year for 2025. The announcement was made public on October 30, 2025, in Chicago.”
Coverage notes pronunciation as “six-seven” (not “sixty-seven”), and some outlets frame the pick as emblematic of youth-driven, online-first language shifts. The formal announcement pegged it to late October 2025, while several outlets simultaneously emphasized its ubiquity and ambiguity.
Origins and Spread of '6-7' Meme
Accounts of how “6-7” spread differ by outlet and region. Many trace its rise to rapper Skrilla’s track “Doot Doot (6 7)” and basketball culture tie-ins, such as LaMelo Ball’s 6'7" height. Viral youth clips like the “67 Kid” also contributed to its popularity.
Spikes in searches and usage were measured across 2024–2025. Some coverage highlights NFL sideline celebrations and Halloween costumes as examples of the meme moving from TikTok to real life. Metrics-focused reports note millions of #67 posts and a sixfold surge in usage during specific months.
Interpretations of Slang Meaning
Coverage of the term's meaning is divided among various outlets. Several sources echo Dictionary.com's framing of the term as "meaningless, ubiquitous, nonsensical" but socially bonding. Other reports highlight common user interpretations such as "so-so," "maybe," or a versatile interjection.
“Dictionary.com named the phrase ‘6-7’ as its Word of the Year, describing it as meaningless and nonsensical yet meaningful to those who use it because of the connection it fosters.”
Some describe it as slang emerging from brainrot-era culture, shaped by social media feeds and in-group signaling. Even Dictionary.com is portrayed as uncertain about the exact meaning, emphasizing an intentional ambiguity that contributes to the meme's appeal.
Reactions to Popular Phrase
Reactions split sharply along generational and institutional lines. Parents and teachers post explainer videos or try to embrace it to make it uncool. Some schools have banned the phrase.
Other reports describe classroom disruptions and public skepticism about enshrining a number-slash-interjection as a word. At the same time, mainstream sports moments—from football sidelines to youth hoops—helped cement its visibility beyond TikTok.
Debate on Word of the Year
Beyond the meme, outlets tie “6-7” to a larger lexicographic debate about what counts as a “word.” They also question what Word of the Year lists actually capture. Some reports list very different runner-ups, reflecting how youth culture and internet in-jokes compete with policy and lifestyle terms.
“Other contenders for Word of the Year included terms like agentic, aura farming, and tradwife.”
Others even disagree over whether this is the first numeric slang or one of the first interjections to win. This illustrates how fast-changing, platform-native slang challenges traditional categories.
