A word that has been used incessantly to describe the fraught state of American politics and society is Merriam-Webster’s 2024 word of the year. That word is “polarization.” Defined as a “division into two sharply distinct opposites,

The dictionary publisher said Americans from competing tribes looked up the definition to better understand divided politics at home and worldwide.

Following a contentious presidential election, Merriam-Webster has chosen its word of the year for 2024: “polarization.” The American dictionary publisher announced its selection today, defining the term as “division into two sharply distinct opposites.