A baffling viral phrase has been declared the most overused and misused term of 2025, topping a prestigious annual list of linguistic offenders that aims to banish tired jargon.
The 50th Annual Banished Words List
Lake Superior State University in the United States unveiled its 50th annual "Banished Words List" on Thursday, 1 January 2026. The list, which began as a tongue-in-cheek New Year's Eve party idea in 1976, compiles submissions from the public on words and phrases they believe are "cooked" and deserve a "massive full-stop."
Around 1,400 nominations poured in from all 50 U.S. states and several other nations, including Uzbekistan, Brazil, and Japan. The university affectionately dubs the compilation a list of "Queen's English for Mis-use, Over-use and General Uselessness."
Gen Z Slang Baffles the Over-40s
Securing the dubious honour of the number one spot is the enigmatic phrase "6-7." Few terms caused more confusion among parents, teachers, and anyone over the age of 40 in 2025. Its meaning remains deliberately vague, often described as a nonsensical inside joke propelled by social media, particularly popular with Generation Z.
"Don't worry, because we're all still trying to figure out exactly what it means," the editors of Dictionary.com noted, after selecting it as their 2025 Word of the Year. Other dictionaries opted for words like "slop" and "rage bait."
University of Michigan sophomore Alana Bobbitt, 19, is a fan. "I find joy in it," she said. "It's a little bit silly, and even though I don't understand what it means, it's fun to use." However, fellow student Jalen Brezzell, 19, remains unconvinced: "Never. I don't really get the joke... I don't see what's funny about it."
Repeat Offenders and Lasting Legacies
The rest of the top ten features a mix of corporate jargon, casual apologies, and enduring slang. The list includes: "demure," "incentivize," "perfect," "gift/gifted," "my bad," "reach out," "cooked," and "massive."
Notably, "my bad" and "reach out" are repeat offenders, having also appeared on the list in 1998 and 1994 respectively, proving some phrases have remarkable staying power.
David Travis, President of Lake Superior State University, commented on the trend. "The list definitely represents the fad and vernacular trends of the younger generation," he said. He pointed to social media as a key driver, where text-based communication lacks body language and tone, making misunderstanding easier.
Travis predicts a short shelf-life for "6-7," suggesting it will be gone by next year. However, he admits some terms are forever. "I don't think they'll ever go away, like 'at the end of the day,'" he confessed, adding, "I used 'my bad' today. I feel comfortable using it. I started using it when I was young."
By being named the most banished term, "6-7" joins infamous company. In 2019, the top spot went to the Latin phrase "quid pro quo," and in 2017, it was claimed by "fake news."
