A Semantic Network Construction of Word of the Year 2023 Rizz

Abstract

—In December 2023, Oxford English Dictionary selected rizz as the Word of the Year . This study examines the relationship between conceptual meanings of rizz and its source word charisma through constructing semantic networks. Based on authentic corpus data from COCA, NOW, and English-language social media platforms, semantic networks are constructed with ROST-CM6. The findings indicate that while charisma is broadly used across different contexts to describe intrinsic personal magnetism, often associated with leadership, rizz is more narrowly referred to attractiveness from romantic partners. Moreover, this study reveals that the rapid diffusion of rizz is attributed to its viral circulation on social media, broadcast by mainstream media, celebrity endorsement, and simplicity. In conclusion, this study demonstrates how semantic network analysis can elucidate the evolving meanings of neologisms and provide insights into the mechanisms underlying their dissemination.