armchair cultural observation since 1995

Bailout receives a Word of the Year nod

A word used frequently with the massive number $700 billion in recent months has been named the 2008 Merriam-Webster Dictionary Word of the Year.

Bailout, which means “a rescue from financial distress” bested vet, socialism and maverick for the honor. The word was chosen because it received the highest intensity of look-ups in the online dictionary in the shortest period of time.

Other words that made the top 10 include: bipartisan, trepidation, precipice, rogue, misogyny and turmoil.

See a pattern?

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