Wait… That’s a word? Find out why Dictionary.com’s “Word of the Year” is turning heads

Every year, Dictionary.com unveils a “word of the year” that reflects the cultural pulse: a single term that sums up what we’ve been talking about, worrying over, or celebrating.

It’s like a linguistic time capsule, capturing the mood, mindset, and momentum of the moment. But in 2024, they flipped the script. Instead of a conventional word, they’ve chosen something that doesn’t even look like one.

No syllables, no pronunciation guide—just a symbol that’s been quietly reshaping how we express ourselves online. It’s bold, unexpected, and surprisingly fitting for a year defined by digital shorthand, emotional nuance, and the power of punctuation.

Curious? You’re not alone. Let’s unpack the meaning behind this unconventional pick.

Word of the year​

It’s “6-7.” That’s it—just two numbers, a dash, and a tidal wave of confusion.

If you’ve heard a kid shout it mid-conversation or mid-bite at dinner, it’s actually a common experience.

Teachers are keeping tally marks like it’s a bingo game, while parents are left wondering if they missed a new math rule, and grandparents are convinced the youth have officially abandoned grammar.

Some interpret “6-7” as a kind of shrug in slang form—“so-so” or “maybe this, maybe that”—especially when paired with the now-familiar juggling hands gesture.

As Merriam-Webster describes it, it’s “a nonsensical expression used especially by teens and tweens”. And for many adults trying to decode it, that’s exactly the point.

Others suggest it’s less about meaning and more about mischief: a generational inside joke that’s “funny precisely because it’s so meaningless”.

But behind the chaos and catchphrase lie a surprisingly layered internet phenomenon: one that blends sports culture, meme logic, and Gen Z’s uncanny ability to turn anything into a moment.

The tangled web of “6-7” origins​

The rise of “6-7” wasn’t sparked by a single moment, but the result of a cultural mashup where basketball fandom, internet remix culture, and youthful ingenuity collided.

At the heart of it all is Skrilla, a Philadelphia rapper whose track “Doot Doot (6 7)” found unexpected fame through sports edits.

The song gained traction when fans began pairing it with clips of NBA players, most notably LaMelo Ball, whose height—6 feet 7 inches (2.01 meters)—became a punchline and a cue. Whenever broadcasters mentioned Ball’s stature, editors would cut to Skrilla’s beat, turning a stat into a signature soundbite. The result? A wave of highlight reels and fan-made montages that cemented the track’s place in basketball meme culture.

The turning point came when Taylen Kinney, a standout basketball recruit from Newport, Kentucky who’s committed to Kansas, became closely linked to the phrase.

His confident delivery of “six-seven” in a popular video helped catapult the meme into mainstream sports culture, blending his rising athletic profile with internet-savvy charisma.

By March 2025, the “6-7” craze had hit full throttle—thanks in large part to a young fan named Maverick Trevillian.

During a basketball game, Maverick was caught on video enthusiastically shouting the phrase while making a distinctive motion: both palms raised, bouncing up and down in sync with his excitement.

The clip exploded online, and Maverick quickly earned the nickname “67 Kid”, becoming a symbol of the meme’s playful energy and its deep roots in sports fandom.

This year’s pick proves that meaning isn’t always the point—sometimes, it’s the moment. Image Source: Facebook/Idioms

Why has “6-7” taken over?​

If you’ve managed to avoid the “6-7” craze, consider yourself lucky.

Pronounced “six-seven” (never “sixty-seven”), this widely shared phrase is intentionally absurd—its lack of meaning is exactly the point. It’s a prime example of what online communities call “brainrot”: content so random and overexposed that it feels like it’s melting your brain.

According to Dictionary.com, searches for “67” skyrocketed in mid-2025, jumping more than sixfold since June. The selection committee didn’t choose it for its depth or elegance—in fact, they leaned into its chaotic emptiness as a reflection of the internet’s current mood.

As Steve Johnson, Dictionary.com’s Director of Lexicography, explained, “It's part inside joke, part social signal and part performance. When people say it, they're not just repeating a meme; they're shouting a feeling.”

In a year shaped by irony, overload, and online absurdity, “6-7” became the perfect symbol for how we express ourselves when words fall short.

What sets “6-7” apart is how it behaves—not as a word with a clear definition, but as a spontaneous outburst. It’s used like an interjection, a quick flash of emotion that travels fast and brings people together, even when no one’s quite sure what it’s supposed to mean. At its core, it’s less about language and more about connection: a shared moment of absurdity that feels oddly unifying. It’s social glue wrapped in digital nonsense.

Why did Dictionary.com choose “6-7” as Word of the Year?​

It might seem odd that a phrase like “6-7”—which isn’t technically a word and doesn’t have a fixed meaning—could earn the title of Word of the Year.

As per Dictionary.com, the decision wasn’t about dictionary definitions—it was about cultural impact. The platform chooses expressions that shape how we talk and reflect the mood of the moment. And “6-7” did exactly that.

As Dictionary.com explained, “The Word of the Year isn’t just about popular usage; it reveals the stories we tell about ourselves and how we’ve changed over the year.”

What does this say about language today?​

The rise of “6-7” is a playful reminder that language doesn’t stand still—it evolves, often in the most unexpected ways.

In an era shaped by trending clips, online catchphrases, and digital in-jokes, it’s no wonder that a phrase as puzzling as “6-7” could become a cultural touchstone.

Even without a clear definition, it resonates. For many young people, it’s a lighthearted way to connect, share a laugh, and maybe leave grown-ups scratching their heads. For others, it highlights how fast communication shifts in the digital age, where sometimes, the meaning matters less than the shared moment it creates.

Have you heard “6-7” in the wild?​

We’d love to hear from you! Have your grandkids or younger relatives been saying “6-7” around the house? Have you seen it online or in the news? Do you think these trends are just a bit of fun, or do they leave you longing for the days when words actually meant something?

Key Takeaways

• Dictionary.com has picked “6-7”—a phrase not even really a word—as its word of the year, after it went popular among kids and teens, leaving many adults confused.
• The origins of “6-7” seem tied to a 2024 song by rapper Skrilla and an online popular video featuring “The 6-7 Kid”, with its meaning remaining unclear and open to interpretation.
• The term has spread rapidly on social media, been debated in classrooms, used in sport celebrations, and sparked both frustration and amusement among adults and teachers.
• Dictionary.com chose “6-7” due to its influence on online communication and social trends, noting a massive surge in searches and conversation about the phrase over the past year.

Share your thoughts, stories, and best guesses about “6-7” in the comments below. Let’s see if we can crack the code together, or at least have a laugh trying!