UPDATE: Dictionary.com has just announced that the viral term ‘6-7’ has been declared the 2025 Word of the Year, reflecting a cultural phenomenon sweeping across America. This meme, rooted in a song by rapper Skrilla, has captivated a generation and generated discussions among parents, teachers, and youth alike.
The term ‘6-7’ exploded in popularity after Charlotte Hornets point guard LaMelo Ball used it in reference to his height, transforming it into a hallmark of Gen Alpha culture. “Few slang terms have captured the cultural mood of 2025 quite like ‘6-7’,” said Steve Johnson, Ph.D., director of lexicography for the Dictionary Media Group at IXL Learning. “It’s part inside joke, part social signal and part performance.”
This explosive trend has dominated social media, igniting conversations across classrooms nationwide. As noted by Dictionary.com, the term shows how seamlessly today’s slang blends digital humor, sports culture, and generational creativity. In fact, an analysis revealed that ‘6-7’ was mentioned in digital media six times more frequently in October 2025 compared to average usage in the previous year.
The rise of the ‘6-7’ phenomenon has baffled many adults, as even Dictionary.com admits that the exact meaning of the term remains elusive. “It connects people long before anyone agrees on what it actually means,” Johnson added, underlining its unique role as both an expression and a cultural touchstone.
Alongside ‘6-7’, Dictionary.com has also added six other terms to its lexicon this year, reflecting the evolving landscape of language influenced by social media. Terms like “aura-farming”, defined as the deliberate cultivation of one’s charisma or style for online attention, and “Gen Z stare”, a blank facial expression associated with the youth, made the list alongside traditional terms such as “tradwife” and “overtourism”.
As Gen Alpha continues to shape cultural conversations, the impact of terms like ‘6-7’ highlights the rapidly changing dynamics of communication among younger generations. The influence of sports, music, and social media remains a powerful force, shaping how language evolves in today’s society.
This announcement is expected to spark further discussions about language trends and the meanings behind emerging slang, making it a key topic of interest across social media platforms. As the cultural landscape shifts, ‘6-7’ serves as a prime example of how new expressions can resonate deeply, connecting individuals in unexpected ways.
Stay tuned for more updates on language trends and cultural phenomena as they develop.
