British dictionary names ‘fake news’ the word of the year

A British dictionary publisher has named “fake news” as its “word of the year” in honor of President Trump’s frequently-used words to attack the media.

“The Word of the Year campaign is a chance to reflect on the words that have defined the last 12 months and we can reveal that the 2017 winner is….FAKE NEWS,” Collins Dictionary posted on its site to announce the new word.

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It said the term “fake news” saw an “unprecedented usage increase 365% since 2016.”

“It has been derided by the leader of the free world and accused of influencing elections, but ‘fake news’ is today legitimate news as it is named Collins’ Word of the Year 2017,” the U.K.-based publisher said in a statement.

The dictionary defined “fake news” as  “false, often sensational, information disseminated under the guise of news reporting.”

In 2016, the publisher also had a politically-tied word of the year, making “Brexit” part of its dictionary after the United Kingdom voted to withdraw from the European Union.

Trump frequently uses the term “fake news” to slam news outlets and media reports whose reporting he found critical or inaccurate. 

“Reports by CNN that I will be working on The Apprentice during my Presidency, even part time, are ridiculous & untrue – FAKE NEWS!” Trump tweeted in December 2016, shortly after winning the election.

“The Fake News is working overtime. As Paul Manaforts lawyer said, there was ‘no collusion’ and events mentioned took place long before he came to the campaign,” Trump tweeted Tuesday in two separate tweets.

Collins said the surge in “fake news” use in the English language makes it worthy to receive its own entry in next year’s dictionary.

Other previous words of the year include binge-watch in 2015, photobomb in 2014 and geek in 2013.