Dictionary.com crowned “67” as its 2025 Word of the Year, a decision that feels both bafflingly random and oddly prescient. The slang term, also written as “6-7” or “six-seven,” surged in popularity this year with an intensity that prompted Dictionary.com to declare the winner early — a month ahead of their usual November announcement.
But what exactly is “67”? Dictionary.com defines it as a “viral, ambiguous slang term” and calls its meaning “largely nonsensical.” Essentially, it’s a shrugging emoji given voice. Think of it as a verbalized “meh,” expressing vague indifference or uncertainty. You might see someone respond to seemingly any question with “67,” regardless of its seriousness — from “How are you?” to “What’s the capital of France?”
The phrase is often paired with a hand gesture: palms facing up, alternating between upward and downward motions. The ambiguity and silliness seem to be exactly why it resonates.
From Song Lyrics to Viral Sensations
While its exact origins remain murky, “67” likely hails from the repetitive “Doot Doot (6 7)” song by rapper Skrilla. Then came viral moments that amplified its spread — a basketball game featuring a gleeful kid shouting “67,” and NBA stars like Shaquille O’Neal casually dropping it into conversation. It’s since become heavily associated with Gen Alpha, capturing the fleeting attention span and playful absurdity often attributed to younger generations.
Is This Just ‘Brainrot’?
Some decry “67” as a prime example of “brainrot,” Oxford’s 2024 Word of the Year. This term describes the alleged mental deterioration stemming from overexposure to trivial or unchallenging online content.
But Dictionary.com’s lexicography director, Steve Johnson, offers another perspective: perhaps it’s less about decaying minds and more about a yearning for connection in an increasingly fractured world.
“It can be about wanting to have shared laughter and collective goals,” Johnson explains. “It shows that even in the most polarized times we’re living in, you can have something that’s just fun and frivolous and lighthearted, where you’re able to kind of connect to others and show belonging.”
He might be onto something. Decades of research point to a growing loneliness epidemic in America. While COVID-19 certainly amplified this sense of isolation, the roots run deeper, pre-dating the pandemic.
Could “67” simply be a desperate attempt at communal humor, a digital handshake across an increasingly isolating landscape? It might seem trivial, but maybe finding fleeting moments of shared amusement is what makes us human — even if those moments are expressed in a nonsensical string of numbers.
It’s unlikely that meme-based wordplay alone will solve the deeper societal problems fueling loneliness and disconnection. But perhaps it represents an urgent need for connection, however goofy or fleeting. As long as we keep looking for more sustainable solutions to address these issues, “67” could be a momentary distraction with surprisingly profound implications.
