‘67’ declared word of the year for 2025: What does it mean and why is everyone confused?

According to the platform, the expression’s real influence lay in its deliberate lack of clarity.

Dictionary.com announced that its 2025 Word of the Year was “67” — pronounced “six-seven” — a slang term widely used by Gen Alpha. The decision quickly drew mixed reactions across social media, leaving many older users confused about how a number had come to represent a word.

The website said that “67” had grown into a popular phrase across TikTok, memes and school conversations in the past year. The expression, now common among younger users, was said to have originated from the track "Doot Doot (6 7)" by the artist Skrilla. Its use expanded after a series of viral posts linked to basketball culture and a child now nicknamed “the 67 Kid,” helping it spread widely.

Dictionary.com noted that within weeks of the trend taking off, teachers were already discussing online how to stop students from using the phrase throughout the day.

The site described “67” as an intentionally ambiguous term, often used to convey uncertainty or neutrality. It defined the slang as meaning something akin to “so-so” or “maybe this, maybe that,” but also emphasised that its meaning often shifted depending on context.

According to the platform, the expression’s real influence lay in its deliberate lack of clarity. “The most defining feature of 67 is that it’s impossible to define. It’s meaningless, ubiquitous and nonsensical,” the site’s statement read. It added that the term symbolised the way in which digital culture had created a shared language among a new generation.

“67 shows the speed at which a new word can rocket around the world as a rising generation enters the global conversation,” the company said.

The shortlist for 2025 also reflected several other cultural and social themes, including terms such as Aura Farming, Broligarchy, Tradwife, Tariff, and Overtourism. Another notable entry was the “dynamite” or “TNT” emoji, which gained attention following the engagement of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce in August. The emoji became shorthand for the couple’s highly publicised relationship, which fans described as “explosive.”

Dictionary.com’s announcement, however, ignited a wave of confusion online. Many users expressed disbelief that a number had been designated a word of the year.

One social media user wrote, “‘67’ as Word of the Year is insane. We’ve officially reached the point where internet inside jokes are replacing English. Oxford’s shaking right now.”

Another commented, “I still don’t know what it even means.” A third person said, “This is not a word. These are numbers. This is like saying that old joke about why six was afraid of seven because seven ate nine, and now 789 is a word of the year.” A fourth added, “We’ve officially run out of words, next year’s gonna be an emoji.”

In a blog post expanding on the word’s origin, Dictionary.com stated that "Doot Doot (6 7)" featured the phrase “six-seven” repeatedly as part of its hook. It also mentioned that the slang may have gained traction through videos referencing NBA player LaMelo Ball, who is 6’7” tall, with the visuals of the song’s lyrics paired with his image turning into a popular meme.

The term, often accompanied by a gesture where both palms face upwards and move alternately up and down, has become characteristic of Gen Alpha’s humour and self-expression.

Dictionary.com described it as an example of “brainrot slang” — phrases that are deliberately absurd and constantly evolving within online communities.

“Because of its murky and shifting usage, it’s an example of brainrot slang and is intended to be nonsensical and playfully absurd,” the platform noted.