Oxford University e-mails that it has chosen its word (or rather, phrase) of the year:

“Carbon neutral.”

As in: As long as he flies across the planet bloviating about global warming, Al Gore will fail at efforts to live a carbon neutral lifestyle.

Some of the runners-up:

elbow bump (a greeting in which two people touch elbows, recommended by the World Health Organization as an alternative to the handshake in order to reduce the spread of germs.)

fishapod (a humorous name for a newly discovered fossil [Tiktaalik roseae] that has features of both fish and land mammals and as such is considered an evolutionary link between the two.)

funner (an informal/nonstandard comparative of fun.)

ghostriding (the practice of exiting a moving vehicle and dancing either beside it, or on the hood or roof, while the vehicle is in motion.)

Islamofascism (a controversial term equating some modern Islamic movements with the European fascist movements of the early twentieth century.)

pregaming (the practice of consuming alcoholic beverages before attending a sporting event or party, especially one where alcohol may be limited or banned.)

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