Following the sharp increase in its usage amid the COVID-19 pandemic, "lockdown" has been named word of the year by Collins Dictionary on Tuesday.
Publishers Harper Collins said that the word "encapsulates the shared experience of billions of people", registering more than 250,000 usages of "lockdown" during 2020, up from 4,000 last year.
Among the pandemic-related terms on the 10-strong list include "coronavirus", "social distancing", "self-isolate", "furlough", and "key worker".
According to Collins, lockdown is "the imposition of stringent restrictions on travel, social interaction, and access to public spaces".
Language content consultant Helen Newstead said that our language is a reflection of the world around us, with this year dominated by the global pandemic.
"With many countries entering a second lockdown, it is not a word of the year to celebrate but it is, perhaps, one that sums up the year for most of the world," she added.
Last year, Collins Dictionary's word of the year was "climate strike", indicating 17-year-old Greta Thunberg's global environmental movement.
Words by Lorille Antoinette Mata
Layout by Kiziah Magbanua
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