Brat, redefined in 2024, declared Word of the Year in UK

Brat, newly re-defined in 2024 as “characterised by a confident, independent, and hedonistic attitude”, was on Friday named Collins Dictionary’s Word of the Year.

The dictionary said the word brat, inspired by the name of an album by English singer-songwriter Charli XCX, has become a cultural phenomenon that has resonated with people globally. The dictionary said “brat summer” established itself as a way of life and even made its mark during the US presidential race when Charli XCX referenced Democratic candidate Kamala Harris as “brat”.

“Brat is different things to different people; a spiky attitude, a garish aesthetic, even a campaign slogan (the phrase ‘Kamala IS Brat’ proved snappy enough to go politically viral, even as its meaning remained a little hard to pin down),” reads a blog for the dictionary by author David Shariatmadari.