A new word capturing the public’s growing frustration and suspicion of artificial intelligence has been named one of Collins Dictionary’s words of 2025. “Clanker,” a derogatory term for computers, robots, and AI, saw a massive surge in use as people grapple with the rise of chatbots and automated systems.
The term was popularized by the Star Wars: The Clone Wars series but was widely adopted on social media this year. Its viral spread, tracked by the 24-billion-word Collins Corpus, is often used to express irritation when an AI platform fails, hallucinates, or feels impersonal and obstructive.
“Clanker” was a top contender for Word of the Year, reflecting the significance of this technological backlash. However, it was ultimately beaten by “vibe coding,” another AI-related term, but one with a positive connotation. “Vibe coding” describes the creative use of AI to turn natural language into computer code.
The presence of both “clanker” and “vibe coding” at the top of the list highlights the profound cultural divide in our feelings about AI. We are simultaneously excited by its potential (“vibe coding”) and infuriated by its limitations (“clanker”).
The “tech-heavy” list also included “broligarchy,” a critical nickname for the tech leaders rolling out these AI systems, and “biohacking,” the use of technology to alter one’s own body. Other entries like “Henry” (high earner, not rich yet) and “taskmasking” (faking work) reflected the economic and social anxieties of the AI age.