"Authentic" has several meanings, including "not fake or imitative", synonymous with real and authentic; as well as "true to one's personality, spirit or character". Although authenticity is certainly a desirable quality, it is difficult to determine, and it is the subject of controversy - two reasons why many turn to the dictionary," the compilers explained.

Merriam-Webster recalled that many celebrities this year used the word "authenticity", including Lainie Wilson, Sam Smith and Taylor Swift, who declared the search for authentic self in creativity, reports RBC.

In addition, it is becoming relevant in connection with the development of artificial intelligence, which affects the academic process, the salaries of actors, and many other areas, making the line between the real and fake increasingly blurred. So, billionaire Elon Musk hit the headlines after saying that people should be more "authentic" on social networks, and applications such as BeReal are aimed at making photo publications more authentic.

Among the other leaders in the number of requests to Merriam-Webster were:

rizz is a noun in internet slang, "romantic attraction or charm";

deepfake - "an image or recording that has been convincingly altered and transformed to portray someone as a person doing or saying something that wasn't actually done or said";

x is the letter that became the new name of the social network Twitter by the decision of the new owner Elon Musk;

doppelganger - "the double, the opposite side of the personality";

kibbutz is a community farm or settlement in Israel, this word began to be searched more often after the attack by Hamas militants.

In 2022, the word of the year according to Merriam-Webster became "gaslighting", and a year earlier - "vaccine".