Global Word of the Year 2017
Oxford Dictionaries named "youthquake" the Word of the Year for 2017, defining it as a significant cultural, political, or social change arising from the actions or influence of young people. The term saw a dramatic increase in usage during 2017, reflecting shifts in politics and culture driven by younger demographics. The shortlist also included terms like "complicit" and "fake news," highlighting the year's focus on accountability and information integrity. For the full Oxford report, see the official announcement page at https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/word-of-the-year/2017.
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Year for 2017 was "feminism," driven by spikes in lookups following major public events and cultural conversations. Dictionary.com selected "complicit" as its Word of the Year, noting increased public scrutiny of ethical behavior in business and politics. Collins Dictionary chose "Trumpism" as a defining term, reflecting the year's political discourse and policy debates. These selections illustrate how language tracked major global themes in 2017.
Financial and Corporate Terms of the Year
Fintech and Cryptocurrency Buzzwords
In finance, "fintech" remained a dominant term as investment in financial technology startups continued to grow. Companies like Stripe and Square expanded their services, pushing digital payments into mainstream banking. Bitcoin's price surge in late 2017 brought "cryptocurrency" and "blockchain" into everyday vocabulary, with the digital asset reaching nearly $20,000 by December. For a detailed timeline of Bitcoin's price action, see the historical data at https://www.coindesk.com/price/bitcoin.
Cambridge Dictionary named "populism" its Word of the Year, reflecting global political movements that influenced financial markets and trade policy. The term gained traction amid debates over Brexit, trade tariffs, and the rise of anti-establishment parties in Europe. In the U.S., the SEC's focus on initial coin offerings (ICOs) brought regulatory attention to cryptocurrency fundraising. For SEC enforcement actions related to ICOs in 2017, see the official releases at https://www.sec.gov/news/press-release/2017-214.
Business and Tech Words That Defined 2017
Corporate Strategy and Innovation
Tesla and SpaceX made headlines throughout 2017 with milestones in electric vehicles and reusable rockets. Tesla's Model 3 production ramp-up and SpaceX's Falcon Heavy development underscored the year's innovation narrative. Amazon's acquisition of Whole Foods in August 2017 signaled a major shift in retail and grocery delivery. For the official Amazon press release, see https://ir.aboutamazon.com/news-release/amazon-com-to-acquire-whole-foods-market-inc.
Apple introduced the iPhone X in November 2017, popularizing terms like "Face ID" and "edge-to-edge display" in consumer tech. The year also saw major data privacy discussions following high-profile breaches at Equifax and other firms. Forbes covered the intersection of tech, finance, and culture in its annual reviews, highlighting terms like "disruption" and "scaling." For Forbes coverage of 2017 business trends, see https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesbusinesscouncil/.