The Word of the Year 2017 has been revealed but no one seems to know what it means

The 2017 Word of the Year has been revealed and it's so unusual we are pretty sure you won't know what it means! We certainly didn't. 'Youthquake' is the World of the Year as announced by Oxford Dictionaries and apparently it ISN'T a new word.

It actually dates back to 1965! Youthquake was first used back in Vogue US when the editor of the magazine said, ‘The year’s in its youth, the youth in its year. … More dreamers. More doers. Here. Now. Youthquake 1965.’

Youthquake is defined as ‘a significant cultural, political, or social change arising from the actions or influence of young people’ and according to the latest data its use has increased five times in the past year.

Earlier this year with the announcement of the snap election, The Guardian reported there was a 'youthquake' behind Labour.

And it seems that it's not just in the UK that this word has been used, in New Zealand the NZ Herald asked if a 'youthquake' was looming.

Speaking about the decision to choose 'youthquake' as the Word of the Year, the President of Oxford Dictionaries said, "We chose youthquake based on its evidence and linguistic interest."

He went on to say, "But most importantly for me, at a time when our language is reflecting our deepening unrest and exhausted nerves, it is a rare political word that sounds a hopeful note. Sometimes you pick a word as the Word of the Year because you recognise that it has arrived, but other times you pick one that is knocking at the door and you want to help usher it in. This past year calls for a word we can all rally behind."

If you're wondering what other words were shortlisted for Word of the Year, we've listed them below with their definitions.

Antifa noun

A political protest movement comprising autonomous groups affiliated by their militant opposition to fascism and other forms of extreme right-wing ideology

broflake noun

A man who is readily upset or offended by progressive attitudes that conflict with his more conventional or conservative views.

gorpcore noun

A style of dress incorporating utilitarian clothing of a type worn for outdoor activities.

kompromat noun

Compromising information collected for use in blackmailing, discrediting, or manipulating someone, typically for political purposes.

Milkshake Duck *noun*

A person or thing that initially inspires delight on social media but is soon revealed to have a distasteful or repugnant past.

newsjacking noun

The practice of taking advantage of current events or news stories in such a way as to promote or advertise one’s product or brand.

unicorn adjective

Denoting something, especially an item of food or drink, that is dyed in rainbow colours, decorated with glitter, etc.

white fragility noun

Discomfort and defensiveness on the part of a white person when confronted by information about racial inequality and injustice.

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