The Oxford Dictionary has announced the term “reydjbeyt” (rage bait) as the word of 2025.
AzEdu.az reports that this information was disseminated by the publishing department of Oxford University.
Experts have defined “reydjbeyt” as provocative online content deliberately created to attract attention and increase reach. The term originated from the English words “rage” (anger) and bait (trap, lure). According to Oxford linguists, the frequency of this word's usage has tripled in the last 12 months.
The term first appeared in a post published on the Usenet platform in 2002. At that time, the word referred to a driver's reaction to flashing headlights, which were perceived as a demand to yield.
Later, the word began to be used for trending content such as internet insults.
The dictionary notes that over time, “reydjbeyt” has entered the daily language of journalists. As the term became widespread, the concept of “reydjfarminq” (rage-farming) emerged. This word describes attempts to manipulate user reactions with provocative material, creating anger, irritation, or additional interest in the discussed topic.
It should be recalled that in 2024, the Oxford Dictionary announced the term “brain rot” (“brain decay”) as the word of the year. This term reflects the destructive impact of low-quality internet content on intellectual abilities.
