Permacrisis, Partygate and mini-budget: the Guardian’s breakthrough words of the year

A trawl of terms used for the first time or with fresh significance reveals the annus horribilis that was 2022

It has been an extraordinary year, so extraordinary, in fact, it required a new word to sum it up: “permacrisis”. This entered the Guardian’s lexicon for the first time in March, an apt word for the annus horribilis that was 2022.

“Permacrisis” went on to become Collins Dictionary’s word of the year and was one of several that broke through, while others gained fresh significance.