'6-7' named word of the year by Dictionary.com, and people are confused

It’s all over the internet, in classrooms — and now, it’s the word of the year.

On Wednesday, Dictionary.com announced “67” (also written as "6-7" or "six-seven") as its word of the year for 2025.

The organization describes the term as “classic brainrot slang” that is "purposefully nonsensical and all about being in on the absurdity."

Put another way, "6-7" can be another way of saying “so-so,” “maybe this, maybe that,” or even saying, well, nothing at all.

Often, people will shout "6-7" with an accompanying raised-palms gesture in rowdy group settings like sporting events — or in classrooms, as of late, to the frustration of many teachers.

In a news release, the director of lexicography for the Dictionary Media Group, Steve Johnson, said it's "one of the first words of the year that works as an interjection."

The term’s exact origin is unclear, though it is often traced back to the 2024 song Doot Doot (6 7) by Skrilla, or to viral video edits of NBA player LaMelo Ball, who is known in part for his height of six feet seven inches.

The Dictionary.com announcement came as a surprise to many online, who pointed out how confusing it is to declare what is arguably a number, or even a meaningless phrase, as the "word" of the year.

"ITS [sic] NOT EVEN A WORD," exclaimed one post on X by @Zigzaglawyer with more than 297,000 likes.

"I can feel myself turn into an old man," wrote comedian Gianmarco Soresi on X.

As for the reasoning behind the decision, Johnson says the term is emblematic of the brainrot culture that has permeated both the internet and the real world. "Few slang terms have captured the cultural mood of 2025 quite like 67," said Johnson. "It's part inside joke, part social signal and part performance."

Across social media, there are videos of people making handshakes that spell out "6-7," teachers incorporating "6-7" into their lessons, creators making food or works of art in the shape of “6-7,” and a takeout restaurant erupting in cheers after order number “6-7” is called. The term even appeared in a South Park episode earlier this month.

From a numbers perspective, the term rapidly gained popularity this year. According to Dictionary.com, "6-7" appeared in digital media six times more frequently in October 2025 alone versus the average usage in 2024. According to TikTok’s analytics, there were more than two million posts with the hashtag #67 uploaded in the last year, with a marked spike in use over the last couple months.

Other words on Dictionary.com’s shortlist for 2025 word of the year were “aura farming,” "Gen Z stare," "tariff" and "tradwife."