Merriam-Webster have chosen their word of the year for 2025, drum roll please...Slop. Seems kind of anticlimactic but their definition of the word explains the choice. "Slop" in 2025 defines all the AI generated digital content dumped on our screens. Another word that stood out in their lookup data was gerrymander which isn't surprising though the story behind the word is amusing. The word comes from Elbridge Gerry who was vice president to James Madison, Gerry was the one who decided that by redrawing districts more members of his party could get elected. His systems resulted in irregular and oddly shaped districts, including Gerry's home district which looked a little like a newt. Upon seeing the map a member of the opposing party drew feet, wings and a head on Gerry's district and said, "That will do for a salamander!" Another member called out "Gerrymander!" and the term stuck.
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