The term “slop,” referring to low-quality digital content produced by artificial intelligence, has been named Merriam-Webster’s 2025 word of the year. The dictionary’s president, Greg Barlow, noted that this reflects growing public awareness and desire for genuine content amidst a flood of misleading AI-generated material. “Slop” has evolved from its 1700s origins, symbolizing a mix of absurdity and misinformation prevalent in today’s digital landscape. Runners-up for the title included viral terms like “six seven” and “performative,” indicating emerging cultural trends.
