While an AI term took the top prize, Collins Dictionary’s 2025 Word of the Year list shines a fascinating light on our evolving relationship with the workplace. The inclusion of “taskmasking” and “micro-retirement” reveals a significant shift in employee attitudes, capturing a new vocabulary for navigating the modern grind.
“Taskmasking” is defined as the act of giving a false impression that one is being productive in the workplace. This term resonates in an era of remote and hybrid work, where digital surveillance and “productivity theater” have become common. It’s the 2025 equivalent of “looking busy” for the digital age, and its inclusion shows how widespread the phenomenon has become.
Alongside this term for faking work is a new term for leaving it—at least temporarily. “Micro-retirement” has also entered the lexicon, described as a break taken between periods of employment in order to pursue personal interests. This concept challenges the traditional linear career path, reflecting a growing desire for work-life balance, sabbaticals, and reprieves from high-stress jobs.
These work-related terms were part of a diverse list that was ultimately headlined by “vibe coding,” an AI-driven software development method. This winner, which involves using natural language to create code, was recognized for its “huge increase in usage” since February. Its selection highlights the other major force shaping our lives: artificial intelligence.
The list also included social and economic terms like “Henry” (high earner, not rich yet), “broligarchy” (the tech elite), and “aura farming” (cultivating a cool persona). Even “coolcation,” a holiday taken to a place with a cool climate, speaks to a changing world, possibly reflecting a desire to escape climate change-induced heatwaves.