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Dictionary.com Names '67' Word of the Year After Viral Surge

The pick reflects quantifiable search growth alongside TikTok volume for a meaningless chant used as a social signal.

Overview

  • Dictionary.com cites a sharp summer–fall 2025 jump, reporting searches for “67” rose more than sixfold since June with millions of TikTok posts and a pronounced September–October spike.
  • Editors and linguists characterize it as intentionally nonsensical “brain rot” slang functioning like an interjection or in‑group token, and they stress it is pronounced “six-seven,” not “sixty-seven.”
  • The meme traces to Skrilla’s 2024 track “Doot Doot (6 7)” and spread through TikTok and basketball highlight edits tied to LaMelo Ball before a viral “67 Kid” clip propelled broader adoption.
  • Teachers report classroom disruptions leading to bans or creative management tactics, with some educators even using a “six”/“seven” call‑and‑response to regain quiet.
  • The selection has drawn broad online criticism over whether a number qualifies as a word, even as offshoot numeric memes such as “six-sendy” and “41” start to surface.