Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

Palin's 'refudiate' top word of 2010

"REFUDIATE," a term Palin popularized when she married the words "refute" and "repudiate" in a post on Twitter, was named the New Oxford American Dictionary's 2010 word of the year, and also placed fourth on the list of the year's top words compiled by the U.S.-based Global Language Monitor.

The proper use of refudiate, according to the dictionary, is as a verb used loosely to mean "reject."

In July, the 2008 vice presidential nominee wrote on Twitter: "Ground Zero Mosque supporters: doesn't it stab you in the heart, as it does ours throughout the heartland? Peaceful Muslims, pls refudiate."

Although the word is associated with Palin, she wasn't the first person to use it, the New American Oxford Dictionary noted in a statement. It was her political-celebrity status that invited critics to pounce.

Other finalists vying for the dictionary's word of the year title were "gleek" (a noun referring to a fan of the television show Glee), "retweet" (a verb referring to re-posting another member's post), and "top kill" (a noun describing a way to plug a leaking oil well).

The No. 1 spot on the Monitor's list went to "spillcam," a noun that became infamous when online video streams broadcast the severity of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill to the world.

-- Postmedia News

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition November 16, 2010 A2

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