‘Vibe Coding’ Crowned 2025 Word of the Year, Signaling AI’s Linguistic Takeover

Collins Dictionary has officially named “vibe coding” as its word of the year for 2025, highlighting a significant shift in how we interact with technology. The term, which describes a new form of software development, beat out other strong contenders, including the derogatory AI term “clanker.”
This emerging methodology relies on artificial intelligence to translate natural language prompts directly into functional computer code. Lexicographers at Collins, who monitor a massive 24-billion-word database of language, noted a meteoric rise in the use of “vibe coding” since it first appeared in February. The selection underscores AI’s growing integration into creative and technical fields.
The term was originally coined by Andrej Karpathy, a prominent figure in the artificial intelligence world, known for his work at Tesla and OpenAI. He used it to describe a future where developers could create applications while being able to “forget that the code even exists,” focusing purely on the desired outcome and feel.
The 2025 list was heavily populated with tech-centric terms. Also featured was “biohacking,” the activity of altering one’s own biology for better health, and “broligarchy,” a nickname for the powerful leaders of major tech companies. This linguistic trend paints a clear picture of technology’s dominance in public discourse.
Alex Beecroft, the managing director of Collins, stated that the choice “perfectly captures how language is evolving alongside technology.” He emphasized that “vibe coding” signals a major shift, making software development more accessible and blending human creativity with machine intelligence in an unprecedented way.