Each year, a light-hearted survey reveals the most overused and misused words and phrases, and for 2025, the results have sparked conversation. The 50th annual “Banished Words List”, released on December 28, 2024, by Lake Superior State University, highlights the term “6-7” as the word most respondents believe should be retired.
The list has its roots in a New Year’s Eve party idea from 1976, evolving into a playful critique of modern language. This year, the university received approximately 1,400 submissions from across the globe, including contributions from countries like Uzbekistan, Brazil, and Japan. Alongside “6-7,” other words highlighted include “demure,” “incentivize,” “perfect,” “gift/gifted,” “my bad,” and “reach out.” Notably, “my bad” and “reach out” have appeared on the list in years past, in 1998 and 1994, respectively.
David Travis, the president of Lake Superior State University, noted the list reflects current slang trends, particularly among younger generations. He explained, “Social media allows a greater opportunity to misunderstand or misuse words. We’re using terms that are shared through texting, primarily, or through posting with no body language or tone context. It’s very easy to misunderstand these words.”
The term “6-7” has gained significant traction over recent months, especially among members of Generation Z. Its exact meaning remains elusive, with many considering it an inside joke that has proliferated through social media. Dictionary.com even named it their 2025 Word of the Year. As the editors stated, “Don’t worry, because we’re all still trying to figure out exactly what it means.” The phrase can be pronounced as “six, seven,” or combined as the number 67, often celebrated at college basketball games when a team reaches that score.
Reflecting on the placement of “6-7” at the top of the banished list, Travis compared it to previous years when phrases like “quid pro quo” and “fake news” garnered similar attention. Alana Bobbitt, a 19-year-old sophomore at the University of Michigan, expressed her enjoyment of the term, saying, “I find joy in it. It’s a little bit silly, and even though I don’t understand what it means, it’s fun to use.”
Conversely, Jalen Brezzell, also a 19-year-old sophomore from the University of Michigan-Dearborn, remarked that while his friends use “6-7,” he personally avoids it. “I don’t really get the joke,” he said. “I don’t see what’s funny about it.” Despite his reluctance to use the term, he acknowledged using other words and phrases from the list, including “cooked,” which he believes gained popularity online.
Travis reflected on the longevity of certain phrases, stating, “I don’t think they’ll ever go away, like ‘at the end of the day.’ I used ‘my bad’ today. I feel comfortable using it.” He suggested that while some terms on the list may persist, others, like “6-7,” may fade with time. “I think ‘6-7,’ next year, will be gone,” he said.
As language evolves and trends shift, the “Banished Words List” serves as a humorous reminder of the words that capture the zeitgeist, illustrating how social media continues to influence communication styles across generations.
