Beating off competition from the likes of “Kyiv”, “sportswashing” and “partygate”, the term “permacrisis” was named Tuesday as Britain’s word of the year in recognition of a dismal 2022, IgbereTV reports
The annual list compiled by Collins Dictionary defined the word as “an extended period of instability and insecurity”.
Its entry into common usage reflected upheaval caused by Brexit, the Covid pandemic, severe weather, the war in Ukraine, political turmoil and a cost-of-living crisis.
“Permacrisis sums up quite succinctly just how truly awful 2022 has been for many people,” said Collins Learning managing director Alex Beecroft.
The arrival of Kyiv as the preferred variant to the Russian spelling of “Kiev” pointed to Britain’s support for Ukraine against Moscow’s invasion.
“Sportswashing” refers to the staging of high-profile sports events, or the takeover of well-known teams, by unsavoury regimes.
Meanwhile “partygate” was one of the many scandals that brought down prime minister Boris Johnson this year.
Britain is now on its third prime minister of 2022 — and also has a new monarch in King Charles III.
Derived from the Latin for Charles, the term “Carolean” entered the Collins list after his mother Queen Elizabeth II’s death last month
