Oxford Word Of The Year: Locavore
It’s that time of the year again. It is finally starting to get cold (if you are worried about the global warming maybe you should become carbon-neutral) and the New Oxford American Dictionary is preparing for the holidays by making its biggest announcement of the year. The 2007 Word of the Year is (drum-roll please) locavore.
The past year saw the popularization of a trend in using locally grown ingredients, taking advantage of seasonally available foodstuffs that can be bought and prepared without the need for extra preservatives.
The “locavore” movement encourages consumers to buy from farmers’ markets or even to grow or pick their own food, arguing that fresh, local products are more nutritious and taste better. Locavores also shun supermarket offerings as an environmentally friendly measure, since shipping food over long distances often requires more fuel for transportation.
“The word ‘locavore’ shows how food-lovers can enjoy what they eat while still appreciating the impact they have on the environment,” said Ben Zimmer, editor for American dictionaries at Oxford University Press. “It’s significant in that it brings together eating and ecology in a new way.”
“Locavore” was coined two years ago by a group of four women in San Francisco who proposed that local residents should try to eat only food grown or produced within a 100-mile radius. Other regional movements have emerged since then, though some groups refer to themselves as “localvores” rather than “locavores.” However it’s spelled, it’s a word to watch.
Runners-up for the 2007 Word of the Year include:
aging in place: the process of growing older while living in one’s own residence, instead of having to move to a new home or community
bacn: email notifications, such as news alerts and social networking updates, that are considered more desirable than unwanted “spam” (coined at PodCamp Pittsburgh in Aug. 2007 and popularized in the blogging community)
cloudware: online applications, such as webmail, powered by massive data storage facilities, also called “cloud servers”
colony collapse disorder: a still-unexplained phenomenon resulting in the widespread disappearance of honeybees from beehives, first observed in late 2006
cougar: an older woman who romantically pursues younger men
MRAP vehicle: Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle, designed to protect troops from improvised explosive devices (IEDs)
mumblecore: an independent film movement featuring low-budget production, non-professional actors, and largely improvised dialogue
previvor: a person who has not been diagnosed with a form of cancer but has survived a genetic predisposition for cancer
social graph: the network of one’s friends and connections on social websites such as Facebook and Myspace
tase (or taze): to stun with a Taser (popularized by a Sep. 2007 incident in which a University of Florida student was filmed being stunned by a Taser at a public forum)
upcycling: the transformation of waste materials into something more useful or valuable
Disagree with the word of the year? Leave a comment and let us know what you think.
[...] I started looking into what I could do as an alternative to buying produce that has to travel such a long distance just so I could enjoy it. I came across heaps of information on eating foods found locally that it was a bit overwhelming. Did you know that there’s even an Oxford English Dictionary definition for those who try to eat only food grown or produced within a 100-mile radius: locavore. [...]
[...] increasingly becoming locavores, though it’s sometimes tough to eat exclusively vegan and local foods in a state with the [...]
[...] the way, just so you know, apparently, the Oxford word of the year for 2007 was… locavore! And did you know that 2008 will be a year of the rat, the hot color will be iris blue, and the [...]
[...] Some are offering a solution that is, simple but unique in its offering; why not become a, “locavore?” Because it’s hard to do; that’s why. The word by the way is Webster’s word for the year [...]
[...] all produced from ingredients and additives that are unpronounceable. Where in the definition of Locavores or Sustainability does one see “mass-produced”, “highly-processed” and [...]
[...] term is “locavore.” Indeed, it was the Oxford New American Dictionary Word of the Year last year and it’s already [...]
Joe’s misunderstanding and dismissal of the term locavore is astonishing.
Most bottled water is typically consumed at considerable distance from its source (Fiji water, Evian, etc).
And even if it is ‘produced’ locally, to choose bottled water is not in keeping with locavore ideology which stresses efficiency of energy and resource use. A locavore would choose tap water where it is drinkable and prefer rainwater where it is available.
The reorientation of our economy towards the local is critical if we are ever going to transition towards true sustainability. We all consume food daily and so we all have considerable power to effect this change.
The locavore concept is far too important dismiss.
Some of the other words are interesting and useful, but ‘locavore’ is of the greatest relevance to humankind.
[...] 2007, “locavore” was named word of the year by the Oxford New American Dictionary. The concept was heartily endorsed by literary giants such as [...]
Bacn versus Spam…love it!
[...] Unite! And Read Peacock’s Memories of Peas 24 07 2008 Locavores and slow food proponents will really get a kick out of Watershed chef Scott Peacock’s write [...]
[...] a good, old-fashioned vacation-vacation. Plus, that word—staycation—destined to become the word of the year (last year’s was locavore: someone who eats locally grown food), is [...]
[...] 2007 Word of the Year- Locavore! (Oxford University Press USA) If this isn’t a statement that local, sustainable eating is here to stay, then I don’t [...]
[...] November 16, 2007 The New Oxford American Dictionary selects one word that was added to its pages each year as the “word of the year,” and this year the word is “locavore.” [...]
[...] term ‘locavore’ refers to someone who eats food produced locally, rather than purchasing food shipped from out of [...]
[...] grown locally. The word ‘locavore’ got so much traction in 2007 that it was named the Oxford Word of the Year for 2007. The locavore movement was a big thing in San Francisco, which is where a lot of trends [...]
[…] 2007, “locavore” was named word of the year by the Oxford New American Dictionary. The concept was heartily endorsed by literary giants such as […]
[...] a well-designed coop you can build from plans. I think it’s a great resource for Atlanta city locavores who want to keep chickens in their backyards [which they can do [...]
[...] participle arriving now like a file cruelly lodged between two front teeth, lacks the tang of last year’s “locavore.” It’s only slightly better than 2006’s “carbon neutral” — a term that [...]
[...] zeker aan bijgedragen. Maar duurzaamheid leeft al langer onder de Amerikanen want vorig jaar werd Iocavore al uitgeroepen tot The Word of the Year 2007 en in 2006 ging carbon-neutral er met de titel van [...]
[...] of the Year honors. “Locavore” — someone who eats only food grown nearby — won the designation for 2007, and this year, hypermiling edged out words like … Frugalista — a person who [...]
[...] a row Oxford has selected an eco-themed word for its annual accolade. Last year’s pick was “locavore” – a term for a person who tries to conserve fuel by eating only foods grown locally. In [...]
“In many social circles it’s ordinary for hosts to accommodate vegetarian guests, even if they’re carnivores themselves. Maybe the world would likewise become more hospitable to diners who are queasy about fuel-guzzling foods, if that preference had a name. Petrolophobes? Seasonaltarians? Lately I’ve begun seeing the term “locavores,”and I like it: both scientifically and socially descriptive, with just the right hint of livin’ la vida loca.”
Great quote. I agree with you. Nice Opinion !
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Living in Vermont, you’d think that being a localvore would present insurmountable difficulties. However, that’s not necessarily the case. We have a winter farmers’ market that provides wonderful vegetables year-round. There are beautiful and tasty hydroponic tomatoes which are grown within 10 miles of the market. For me, to be a Localvore is an aspiration. I don’t claim to meet the criteria but do believe it’s a laudable goal. At least I now cringe when buying asparagus from Mexico and cherries from Chile at the super market.
Great quote. I agree with you. Nice Opinion !
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[...] this eco-concept follows up on last year’s choice by the venerable dictionary — “locavore,” the practice of eating food sourced within 100 or so miles. Green ideas are definitely [...]
One year later, I still have great social conversations about the word LOCALVORE! It is a great word, a great conversation, and a great social movement. My New Year’s resolution last year was to be more of a localvore and I succeeded in meeting that resolution. I will continue it again this year for my health and the health of the world!
[...] Resolution #1: Become a Locavore “Locavore” was New Oxford English Dictionary’s Word of the Year in 2007. I think locavoreianism (doubtful that this the correct term) also often means eating [...]
[...] in December I heard about the Urban Grains CSA from Late Bloomer. As an aspiring locavore, this was big news. You see, one of the staple items that is very difficult to track down in [...]
[...] is the Oxford dictionary’s word of the year? You’ll never [...]
[...] 2007 Word of the Year- Locavore! (Oxford University Press USA) If this isn’t a statement that local, sustainable eating is here to stay, then I don’t [...]
[...] another, you’ve probably heard someone use the term “locavore.” In fact, it was Oxford Dictionary’s 2007 Word of the Year. If you haven’t, here’s the scoop: A locavore is simply someone who eats locally [...]
[...] The Locavores are a group of “concerned culinary adventurers” from the San Francisco area that challenge people to eat food that comes from within a 100-mile radius and strive to spread the word about their cause. Hey, they even got the word “locavore” in the dictionary! [...]
[...] is shaping up to be a year of opportunities for the 70+ farmers’ markets in Kansas. Locavore has entered the national lexicon and, with budgets tight, everyone is seeking more value for their [...]
[...] on their products, making it easy for consumers to identify them. The four women who coined the term locavore Baby bison from the Lone Star Lake Bison Ranch in Overbrook, [...]
[...] in to the Locavore initiatives. Read about Global Challenges in [...]
[...] Locavores are committed to eating seasonal, locally grown foodstuff and as much as possible. This concept has become so important and so mainstream that Locavore was the Oxford English Dictionary’s 2007 Word of the Year. [...]
[...] week’s news about the Obama family vegetable garden shows how far locavorism has come since the term entered the foodie lexicon in 2005. It also shows how Americans’ food [...]
[...] New Oxford American Dictionary declared Locavore it’s word of the year in 2007. More and more people are taking the time to consider where [...]
[...] results are in: this year’s New Oxford American Dictionary word of the year is … locavore. As a testament to the growing salience of the sustainability movement, the [...]
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[...] like to hear what exactly he said because this is a pretty loose and elastic term despite being the New Oxford American Dictionary’s Word of the Year for 2007. Clearly he is referring to the craft brewers as production locavores, or the supply side of this [...]
[...] November 2007 the Oxford University Press announced locavore as the Word of the Year. No, until recently I had never heard of it either. But now it seems that I keep hearing, and [...]
[...] reported, picked the interjection “w00t” and the new Oxford American Dictionary chose “locavore.” And on January 4th the American Dialect Society will vote for their pick of ‘07; among the [...]
[...] 作り手は収穫物をシェアするメンバーを集めて、好きな農作業。メンバーたちは安心・安全で作り手の顔の見える野菜をおまちかね。Hyper（チョ〜）が付いた「locavore」というワード、local（地元）と-vore（〜食動物を意味する接尾辞）の合成語で、New Oxford American Dictionary2007の“Word of the Year”に選ばれた言葉です。地元の野菜を食べる人ですから、“地元食民”とでも訳せましょうか。 [...]
[...] Tuesday, August 11th, 2009 | Uncategorized In 2007, the Oxford English Dictionary dubbed “locavore” the word of the year: The “locavore” movement encourages consumers to buy from [...]
[...] The Hard Reality of Semiglobalization and Competing in a Flat World. *Oxford has announced their word of the year. *Wendy Waters’ great post on whether more bicycle friendly cities attract more talent, and [...]
[...] Food Processors Association’s Manitoba Made food guide to get more ideas. We’re not locavores by any stretch, but it did feel good to collect such a lovely bounty of locally-made [...]
[...] you need a little more food for thought, check out this link: blog.oup.com/2007/11/locavore/ . Under comments there is also a link to the great cheapavore challenge (another good [...]
[...] New Oxford American Dictionary chose the word “LOCAVORE” as it’s 2007 word of the year. Why? Because a “locavore” is one who seeks out locally produced foods, and it’s [...]
[...] food, in fact, that the term “locavore” was coined in 2005 and two years later the New Oxford American Dictionary named it the word of the [...]
[...] nu va place, puteti sa incercati varianta Oxford, via San Francisco, a fatal combo : locavore. Ca sa rezum parerea despre aceste doua new entries, as putea sa [...]