The art of turning human language into computer code using artificial intelligence has been named “Word of the Year” by Collins Dictionary. This year’s choice reflects how technology is reshaping our relationship with language and coding itself.
Dubbed “vibe coding,” the term was coined by Andrej Karpathy, a prominent figure in the AI world who previously held roles at both Tesla and OpenAI. It describes a revolutionary approach where users can essentially guide an AI to build apps without needing traditional coding knowledge. Imagine describing your desired app’s functionality in plain English, and having AI translate those instructions into functioning code – that’s the essence of “vibe coding.”
Collins Dictionary defines it as “the use of artificial intelligence prompted by natural language to assist with the writing of computer code.” They observed a significant spike in the term’s usage since its emergence in February 2025.
This shift has profound implications for software development, according to Alex Beecroft, Managing Director of Collins Dictionary. He believes “vibe coding” symbolizes “a major shift in software development where AI is making coding more accessible.” It’s a powerful demonstration of how natural language and machine intelligence are merging to democratize the creation of digital tools.
The selection of “vibe coding” as Word of the Year follows last year’s choice, “brat,” popularized by musician Charli XCX, which exemplified evolving youth slang. This year’s shortlist included other intriguing words that captured the zeitgeist: terms like “aura farming,” “biohacking,” and “taskmasking” reflected contemporary preoccupations with self-image, personal enhancement, and workplace dynamics.
These shortlisted words offer a glimpse into how language evolves alongside societal trends. They highlight our fascination with technology’s influence on everything from identity to productivity, ultimately shaping the way we communicate and understand the world around us.
