Nationalism
People flocked to the dictionary to find the meaning of the word "nationalism" in late October after President Donald Trump described himself as a nationalist during a Texas rally.
"You know, they have a word — it’s sort of became old-fashioned — it’s called a 'nationalist.' And I say, really, we’re not supposed to use that word," Trump said. "You know what I am? I’m a nationalist, OK? I’m a nationalist. Nationalist. Nothing wrong. Use that word. Use that word."
Merriam-Webster said look-ups for the word spiked 8,000% after Trump used it. The dictionary defines nationalism as "loyalty and devotion to a nation," especially "exalting one nation above all others."
Pansexual
Another popular word for dictionaries this year was "pansexual," which relates to "sexual desire or attraction that is not limited to people of a particular gender identity or sexual orientation," according to Merriam-Webster.
The increase in attention can be attributed in part to Janelle Monae, the singer and actress who said she identified as pansexual in an interview with Rolling Stone.
Lodestar
One of the biggest political mysteries of the year centered on the use of the word "lodestar."
In September, The New York Times published an anonymous op-ed from a senior White House official describing a secret resistance against the president within the Trump administration.
As political pundits debated the identity of the author, they zeroed in on one word used in the op-ed: lodestar. The fairly obscure word means "a star that leads or guides" or "one that serves as an inspiration, model, or guide" — and Vice President Mike Pence happens to have a history of using it.
Although some suggested Pence may be the mystery author, others noted the use of "lodestar" could have been clever misdirection from another official hoping to cover their tracks.
Epiphany
The K-Pop group BTS is responsible for sparking curiosity in the word "epiphany," meaning "an illuminating discovery."
In August, the word was used in a trailer for the group's upcoming album, which has racked up almost 40 million views on YouTube.
Feckless
Comedian Samantha Bee caused a stir in May when she called Ivanka Trump a four-letter word on her show "Full Frontal" over Trump's silence on her father's immigration policies.
But what sent people to the dictionary was her use of the word "feckless" in the same insult. The dictionary defines feckless as weak, ineffective, or worthless.
Laurel
A recording of the word laurel — or is it yanny? — lit social media on fire in May, sparking endless debate and quickly becoming 2018's version of "the dress."
It seemed no one could agree on which word the voice on the recording was saying. As it turned out, the phenomenon was attributed to the different ways our brains pick out different frequencies — an answer that left everyone and no one satisfied at the same time.
In any case, the controversy generated outsize interest in the world "laurel," a tree or shrub whose leaves are often used for adornment. Merriam-Webster said the yanny-laurel saga caused a 3,300% spike in look-ups for the word.
Pissant
One of the dictionary's MVPs this year was "pissant," an obscure word that people looked up 115,000% more than usual when it played a role in a controversy involving NFL star Tom Brady.
In January, Brady cut short his weekly interview with a Boston radio show a week after the host described Brady's 5-year-old daughter as "an annoying little pissant."
A "pissant" is "one that is insignificant," according to Merriam-Webster, noting that it's "used as a generalized term of abuse."
Respect
"Respect" became one of the dictionary's most-looked up words after the death of Aretha Franklin in August.
"Respect" is the name of Franklin's signature 1967 song. Merriam-Webster defines it as "high or special regard" and "the quality or state of being esteemed."
Maverick
The death of another American icon prompted a journey to the dictionary when longtime Arizona Senator John McCain died in late August.
McCain earned the reputation of a "maverick" for his willingness to buck traditional Republican orthodoxy. Originally referring to an unbranded range animal, a maverick in the political sense means "an independent individual who does not go along with a group or party," according to Merriam-Webster.
Excelsior
When Marvel's Stan Lee died in November, it prompted people to look up a word that was closely associated with him: excelsior.
The word is Latin for "higher," and Lee used it as a sign-off at the end of his monthly columns for Marvel Comics.
