Metaverse could be Oxford University's word of the year

Understand: What is the metaverse?

Through the university's official Twitter account, the three finalist words for the year 2022 were announced for 'Oxford Word of the Year'. The competition is held annually by Oxford University Press (OUP), publisher of the Oxford English Dictionary, but only this year will the public be able to vote for their favorite word in the competition.

Alongside “metaverso”, “Goblin Mode” and “#IStandWith” compete for prominence in the Oxford dictionary. The three terms reached the final after an analysis in a language data system.

Understand the meaning of the candidate expressions, according to the Oxford dictionary in free translation: 

• In the 'metaverse', we see the conceptual future brought into the vernacular in 2022. From hybrid work in VR to debates about the ethics and viability of a fully online future, the use of this word has quadrupled in October 2022 compared to the same period last year.

• '#IStandWith' recognizes the activism and division that have characterized 2022. From the war in Ukraine to the Depp v. Heard, this 'word' coined on social media to align your opinions with a cause or person can often further fuel dispute (and even hate speech) in its polarizing nature.

• 'Goblin Way' is another relatively new concept: the idea of ​​rejecting societal expectations placed upon us, in favor of doing what you want. Initial usage dates back to 2009/10, but as we emerge from lockdowns across the world, the phrase was coined in rejection of the return of 'back to normal' after a fake Julia Fox 'quote' brought the term back to the mainstream.

What led to the term “metaverse” being a finalist?

Regarding the choice of “metaverse” as a finalist, the entity published: “Metaverse: its use has increased as we discuss hybrid work, debate ethics and imagine the viability of a fully online future”.

The result announcement date has not yet been announced by the institution, but voting takes place until December 2nd, and the general public can choose their preferred term from the organization's website. Oxford Languages. So far, more than 323 thousand votes have already been cast.

The term “metaverse” It was widely popularized after the North American businessman who owns Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, announced a series of investments in the so-called web3.0.

See also:

Metaverse University? Institution in Spain claims to be a pioneer in “immersive education”

Metaverse University, created in Barcelona, ​​Spain, claims to be the first university entirely in the metaverse. In Brazil, educational institutions are already securing spaces in the metaverse or focusing on training professionals to create universes on Web 3.0.