Authentic

Sometimes, when a dictionary announces its “Word of the Year,” it’s trying to put forward a word that was newly created to match a new cultural dynamic, or a word that describes something popular or what was significant to the news cycle.

Which is why I didn’t see this word coming.

Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Year for 2023 is authentic. In other words, they picked a word that reflected what all of us, right now, seem to most long for. It’s what we’re all thinking about, writing about, hoping for, and judging others by.

It was the right choice. Particularly in light of all things AI (artificial intelligence), political posturing, celebrity culture, leadership hypocrisy, deep fakes and, of course, social media.

As Merriam-Webster notes:

Authentic has a number of meanings including “not false or imitation,” a synonym of real and actual; and also “true to one’s own personality, spirit, or character.” Authentic is often connected to identity, whether national or personal: words frequently modified by authentic include cuisine and dish, but also self and voice. Celebrities like singers Lainey Wilson, Sam Smith, and especially Taylor Swift all made headlines in 2023 with statements about seeking their “authentic voice” and “authentic self.”

Simply put, in our world, authentic is what “brands, social media influencers, and celebrities aspire to be.” Which means, ironically, that authenticity can become a performance.

Other words stood out to the dictionary for 2023, such as:

... rizz (romantic appeal or charm),

... deepfake (an image or recording that has been convincingly altered and manipulated to misrepresent someone as doing or saying something that was not actually done or said),

... coronation (due to the ceremony to crown Charles III),

... and dystopian (the depiction of a dark potential future).

But I think they got it right with authentic. Which, as a report by National Public Radio quipped, shows that it certainly wasn’t picked by AI. But what is most interesting is that authentic wasn’t picked by Merriam-Webster, either.

Their selection was based solely on how many people used their website to look up its definition. Authentic was the word that was looked up more than any other word. 

Which tells us that it really is what people are looking for.

James Emery White

Sources

“Word of the Year 2023,” Merriam-Webster, November 27, 2023, read online.

Emily Olson, “Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Year Definitely Wasn't Picked By AI,” National Public Radio, November 27, 2023, read online.

About the Author

James Emery White is the founding and senior pastor of Mecklenburg Community Church in Charlotte, NC, and a former professor of theology and culture at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, where he also served as their fourth president. His latest book, Hybrid Church: Rethinking the Church for a Post-Christian Digital Age, is now available on Amazon or from your favorite bookseller. To enjoy a free subscription to the Church & Culture blog, visit churchandculture.org where you can view past blogs in our archive, read the latest church and culture news from around the world, and listen to the Church & Culture Podcast. Follow Dr. White on X, Facebook and Instagram at @JamesEmeryWhite.

The views expressed in this commentary do not necessarily reflect those of CrosswalkHeadlines.

James Emery White is the founding and senior pastor of Mecklenburg Community Church in Charlotte, NC, and a former professor of theology and culture at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, where he also served as their fourth president. His latest book, Hybrid Church: Rethinking the Church for a Post-Christian Digital Age, is now available on Amazon or from your favorite bookseller. To enjoy a free subscription to the Church & Culture blog, visit churchandculture.org where you can view past blogs in our archive, read the latest church and culture news from around the world, and listen to the Church & Culture Podcast. Follow Dr. White on X, Facebook and Instagram at @JamesEmeryWhite.