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Word of the year - 3rd January 2022
The Oxford English Dictionary, 'the OED', chooses one special word each year. The word is important for that year. In 2021, the word was 'vax'.
'Vax' means 'vaccine'. This word is common now. People often talk about Covid-19 and vaccines these days.
You can spell the word with one 'x' or two – 'vax' or 'vaxx'. The first way is very common. Other words like 'double-vaxxed' and 'unvaxxed' are possible too.
The word 'vax' is not new. People used the word in the 1980s. It was unusual then. But it's an old word.
People first used 'vax' in English in 1799. People wrote the verb, 'vaccinate', in 1800. But now, people use these words in everyday life.
Usually, the OED only chooses one word every 12 months. But last year, they chose lots of words. Some examples are 'bushfires', 'Black Lives Matter' and 'lockdown'. In 2020, Collins dictionary chose 'lockdown' too.
Covid-19 is changing our lives and our language.
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