Oxford Name ‘Rage Bait’ As Word Of The Year For 2025

Oxford University Press has selected “rage bait” as its Word of the Year for 2025, placing it ahead of other shortlisted terms including “biohack” and “aura farming”.

Even if the term is unfamiliar, rage-baiting is something most social media users have encountered, with 2025 often cited as the year the trend exploded.

Oxford University Press, publisher of the Oxford English Dictionary, defines the term as online content intentionally crafted to provoke anger or outrage by being irritating, provocative, or offensive.

The expression first appeared online in 2002 in a Usenet post describing a driver’s reaction to being flashed by another motorist, introducing the concept of intentional provocation.

Over time, the term evolved into modern internet slang associated with viral posts, often used to criticise the systems—platforms, creators, and trends—that shape what circulates online.

Past Oxford Words of the Year include widely recognised terms such as “selfie” and “rizz.”

#MaltaDaily