The 10 Most 2013 Words

    Via the Global Language Monitor.

    Tabatha Leggett
    by Tabatha Leggett

    BuzzFeed Staff, UK

    The Global Language Monitor has announced its top words, phrases and names of 2013.

    Having surveyed words used on the Internet, blogs, social media and in over 275,000 forms of print and electronic global media, it has put together a definitive ranking.

    To qualify, words, phrases and names must be found globally and have a minimum of 25,000 citations. They must not be limited to a specific profession, social group or geography.

    Amongst the top ten phrases are: "toxic politics"; "federal deficit"; and "all time high". Meanwhile, Pope Francis, Kate Middleton, and Edward Snowdon are some of the most mentioned names of the year.

    Herewith, the top ten words.

    10.

    Shutterstock / Sergey Nivens

    What does it mean? To set free, especially from legal, social, or political restrictions.

    9.

    Shutterstock / Betty LaRue

    What does it mean? To legally take possession of assets.

    8.

    Shutterstock / Iakov Filimonov

    What does it mean? The amount by which something, usually a sum of money, is too small.

    7.

    Shutterstock / Tyler Olson

    What are they? Remote-controlled, pilotless aircrafts or missiles.

    6.

    Shutterstock / VICTOR TORRES

    What does it mean? Close observation, especially of a suspected spy or criminal.

    5.

    Shutterstock / Glaze Image

    What does it mean? The Global Language Monitor suggests, "the ‘optic’ is threatening to overtake ‘the narrative’ as the Narrative overtook rational discourse." Your guess is as good as ours.

    4.

    Shutterstock / Iacopo Guidi

    What is it? Pope Francis' Twitter handle.

    3.

    Shutterstock / 1000 Words

    What is it? The sign (#) used on to identify tweets on a specific topic.

    2.

    Shutterstock / Leszek Glasner

    What does it mean? To be unsuccessful.

    1.

    Via Shutterstock / wavebreakmedia

    What is it? An error message displayed by a browser indicating that an Internet address cannot be found.