The era of needing to be a technical expert to build software may be over, according to Collins Dictionary’s 2025 Word of the Year. The top honor was given to “vibe coding,” a revolutionary term that describes using natural, conversational language to have an AI generate functional computer code.
The term was coined in February by Andrej Karpathy, a founding engineer at OpenAI, who described it as a breakthrough that could allow someone to create a new app while being able to “forget that the code even exists.” This idea of “vibe-driven development” has clearly captured the public imagination, as Collins lexicographers tracked a “huge increase” in its usage.
Alex Beecroft, Collins’ managing director, called the selection a signal of a “major shift in software development.” He noted that “vibe coding” is making the field more accessible and represents a “seamless integration of human creativity and machine intelligence,” fundamentally changing how we command computers.
This new, accessible approach to tech was the optimistic winner on a list that also reflected our fears. “Clanker,” a viral, derogatory term for AI and robots, was a top contender, showcasing the public’s frustration with the limitations and perceived threats of AI.
The 2025 list was filled with other terms reflecting modern life, including “broligarchy” (the tech elite), “biohacking” (health optimization), “Henry” (high earner, not rich yet), “taskmasking” (faking productivity), and “aura farming” (curating a cool persona).
