Oxford names 'Rizz' as word of the year 2023. What does the Gen Z term mean?

Oxford's chosen word 'rizz' was made popular by actor Tom Holland.

Oxford University Press (OUP), the world's second-oldest academic press and the publisher of the iconic Oxford English Dictionary, has unveiled its 2023 Word of the Year: "Rizz." This term, a manifestation of Gen Z and perhaps Gen Alpha’s linguistic flair, encapsulates notions of style, charm, and attractiveness, particularly in the context of one's ability to allure a romantic or sexual partner.

Emerging from the lexicon in 2022, "rizz" soared into the limelight in June, propelled by actor Tom Holland's candid admission during a Buzzfeed interview: "I have no rizz whatsoever. I have limited rizz."

Oxford's official definition, provided by the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), explicates "rizz" as the embodiment of style, charm, or attractiveness and the prowess to attract a romantic or sexual partner. The term, believed to be a concise derivative of "charisma," also takes on a verbal form, as seen in expressions like "to rizz up," signifying the act of attracting, seducing, or engaging someone in conversation.

This linguistic revelation seems to echo the traditional concept of "game," denoting skill, prowess, and the art of attracting others through charm. The surge in overall usage, approximately 15 times higher than the preceding year, prompted a deluge of memes and cultural reflections.

Oxford's analysis, drawing from a corpus of over 22 billion words sourced from English-speaking news outlets, positioned "rizz" at the forefront, aligning with the ethos and preoccupations of 2023.

The selection process involved a shortlist of eight words reflecting the prevailing mood of the year. Unlike the conventional approach, Oxford engaged the public in shaping the decision-making process.

A staggering 30,000 individuals participated in voting to narrow down thematic pairings, leading to the final decision by Oxford's team. Head-to-head matchups included thematic categories like celebrity culture ("Swiftie" vs. "de-influencing"), personal characteristics ("rizz" vs. "beige flag" denoting a partner's perceived boredom), shifts in the world ("prompt" vs. "heat dome"), and relationship dynamics ("parasocial" vs. "situationship").