Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Year for 2023 Is “Authentic”: Is Being So More Important Than Ever Before to Our Guests?

Doug Kennedy | December 4, 2023

By Doug Kennedy As the final days of slip away, how interesting it is that Merriam-Webster’s “Word of the Year” for 2023 is “Authentic,” meaning it was the “most searched” on their site. Because I failed miserably at learning a second language, I have become somewhat of an Etymologist, so I was eager to see how Merriam Webster defined it in their announcement. “Authentic has a number of meanings including ‘not false or imitation,’ a synonym of real and actual; and also ‘true to one’s own personality, spirit, or character.’” To me, this year’s announcement seems even more interesting, since 2022’s most sea...