Dictionary.com recently announced its Word of the Year for 2025, sparking mixed reactions across social media platforms.

This announcement highlighted the selection of ’67’ as the word of the year, a term gaining popularity among Gen-Alpha students. However, it has been causing some irritation for teachers nationwide.

The word ’67’ presents a unique challenge in terms of definition. Dictionary.com notes that while some interpret it to mean ‘so-so,’ others see it as a playful way for kids to vex their parents.

Accompanying the term is a signature hand motion, described by Dictionary.com as both palms facing upward and moving up and down alternately.

Among many children, being familiar with ’67’ is often seen as a badge of belonging to the ‘cool’ crowd.

Daily Mail previously reported that the term originates from a song called ‘Doot Doot (6,7)’ by rapper Skrilla, and gained traction this summer. 

It simply means ‘nothing’ and can be used to suggest that a person is ‘average.’

The phrase gained traction online with people making videos about sportspeople who they believe aren’t playing well, using a clip from Skrilla’s song. 

Dictionary.com has revealed their Word of the Year for 2025 – and it hasn’t gone over well with some social media users (stock image)

However, the term has become so irritating to some teachers that they’ve had to ban it in their classrooms.

One person wrote on Reddit: ‘I’m an eighth grade teacher and I am so done hearing it that I just banned it from my classroom.

‘You can’t say the two numbers in a row without the class bursting out in a chorus of “67.”

‘It was funny at first, but now it’s just old and continually interrupts many class conversations.’

Even Today host Jenna Bush Hager covered the topic during a September episode of her show, Today With Jenna & Friends.

She and co-host Sheinelle Jones had on viral teacher Mr. Philip Lindsay to discuss the term.

Hager said that her kids used the term a lot, but that it was almost becoming ‘uncool’ because they’ve said it so much. 

‘I bring it out sometimes, and they’re like, oh, mom, that’s cringe,’ Hager said during the segment.  

The term comes with a matching hand gesture, where ‘both palms face up and move alternately up and down,’ Dictionary.com explained (stock image)

The news that ’67’ had been chosen as the word of the year by Dictionary.com did not go over well on X.

While some found it amusing, many others slammed the announcement. 

‘This is dumb…’ one person wrote.

‘I’ve lost hope for future generations and for the future of mankind,’ another scathed.

Someone else sarcastically said, ‘A word with no definition. Nice.’

‘Just burn the dictionary now,’ joked a different user, while another pointed out, ‘It’s not even a word bro.’

Other words that made the list of Dictionary.com’s Word of the Year Shortlist include ‘Gen-Z stare’ and ‘tradwife.’

‘Tradwife’ refers to the term for ‘traditional wife,’ which has been used to describe women who adhere to some of the more traditional gender roles, showing themselves creating meals from scratch, living off the land, and taking care of their many children. 

‘Gen-Z stare’ refers to a blank stare that some members of Generation Z have, especially in the work place.