THE MOST COMMONLY SEARCHED FOR DEFINITIONS IN THE WORLDS
To learn the meaning of an unfamiliar word, we no longer need to consult a physical dictionary. Instead, we can rely on the internet. In that vein, WordTips has compiled a list of the most commonly searched-for word definitions from around the world, including ASMR in the Netherlands and pookie in Mauritius.
To complete this task, WordTips restricted their data set to searches conducted in 2024, using Semrush's Keyword Research Tool. The team then ranked words according to the number of Google searches for their definitions, which were all conducted in local languages. Most importantly, the study's findings show how certain words have gained popularity regardless of geographic location, particularly in the aftermath of political and pop cultural developments.
Fascism and genocide were among the most popular searches across nearly every continent, with Germany, Australia, Bangladesh, and Switzerland ranking first. These words, along with similar ones such as xenophobia, Zionism, and racism, provide a stark reflection of current geopolitical conflicts, emphasizing their increased prevalence in government affairs, the media, and even casual conversation.
Despite this, people have sought words of hope. Resilience was the most searched word in several Central and South American countries, including Venezuela, Bolivia, Honduras, and Guatemala. Nigeria and Panama ranked love as their top searches. This year has also seen an increase in the visibility of pop culture-related terms. In the United States, for example, gaslighting was the most frequently searched definition, with 110,000 monthly searches. Demure, a term that resurfaced in a viral TikTok video, was one of the most searched-for word definitions in six countries, while dank dominated search bars in Greece and Hungary. Pegging reigned supreme in Ireland.
“Word meanings evolve and come to fit our world as our cultures change and grow—with old words often growing into new uses that leave many of us grappling for dictionaries, ‘Urban’ or otherwise,” WordTips writes.
