Oxford University Press has named 'rizz' as its word of the year for 2023. The term, defined as style, charm, or attractiveness and the ability to attract a romantic or sexual partner, is believed to be a shortened form of 'charisma'. It is predominantly used by young people and has gained massive popularity online, with billions of views of the hashtag 'rizz' on TikTok.
Rizz can also be used as a verb, as in 'to rizz up', meaning to attract or chat someone up. It is essentially a modern equivalent of 'game'. YouTuber and streamer Kai Cenat is widely credited with popularising the term, and its usage continued to climb this year. In June, actor Tom Holland was asked about his rizz, to which he replied he had 'no rizz whatsoever' and had won over his girlfriend Zendaya by playing the 'long game'.
The word was selected from a shortlist of eight, including Swiftie, beige flag, situationship, parasocial, heat dome, prompt, and de-influencing. The list was narrowed down via a public vote before lexicographers made the final decision. Last year's winner was 'goblin mode'.
Casper Grathwohl, president of Oxford Languages, noted that while 'goblin mode' resonated post-pandemic, 'rizz' speaks to a mood of confidence and openness in 2023. He added that the rise of words from internet culture reflects their increasing integration into everyday language. The other shortlisted words may eventually be added to dictionaries based on longevity and usage.
