What does vibe coding mean? The AI term crowned Collins word of the year
“Vibe coding”, an innovative software development method that translates natural language into computer code using artificial intelligence, was selected as Collins’ 2025 Word of the Year.
Lexicographers at Collins Dictionary, who meticulously monitor Corpus drawings of 24 billion words from a variety of media and social platforms, chose the term after observing a significant increase in its use since February.
This annual selection aims to reflect the ever-evolving landscape of our language.
The phrase was coined by Andrej Karpathy, Tesla’s former director of AI and a founding engineer at OpenAI, who explained how AI can empower individuals to create new applications while also “forgetting the code even exists.”
The prestigious list also includes “biohacking,” defined as the practice of altering one’s natural bodily processes to increase one’s health and longevity, and “clanker,” a derogatory term for computers, robots or artificial intelligence sources. Star Wars: The Clone Wars.
The word has gone viral on social media and is often used to express people’s frustration with and distrust of AI chatbots and platforms.
The word “glaze,” also a term of disapproval, has gained traction this year; it means to praise or flatter someone excessively or unfairly.
Another is “aura farming,” defined as the deliberate cultivation of a distinctive and charismatic personality; It’s essentially the art of looking cool.
The term was previously popular among gamers, but reached a much wider audience earlier this year following the widely shared “boat boy” video that started a popular dance trend among celebrities, including American football player Travis Kelce.
The owners of the largest global technology companies, informally known as the tech bros, have been dubbed the “brotherhood” after their high-profile attendance at US President Donald Trump’s inauguration, with the word also appearing on the list.
The increase in the use of the term “HENRY”, an abbreviation for “high-income, not yet rich”, indicates that the term was also coined by Collins.
This list also includes “cooling off,” which means a vacation in a place with a cool climate, and “task masking,” which is the act of giving the false impression of being productive at work.
Micro-retirement, defined as a break between working hours to pursue personal interests, also has characteristics.
Alex Beecroft, managing director of Collins, said: “The selection of vibration coding as Collins’ Word of the Year perfectly reflects how language is evolving with technology.
“This signals a major shift in software development, where AI is making coding more accessible.
“The seamless integration of human creativity and machine intelligence demonstrates how natural language is fundamentally changing the way we interact with computers.”
