Collins Dictionary has chosen “brat” as the 2024 Word of the Year, giving new meaning to a term that once only described a troublesome child.
According to Collins, “brat” now symbolizes a “confident, independent, and hedonistic attitude,” a shift inspired by UK pop singer Charli XCX and her sixth album, *Brat*.
Collins explained, “Inspired by the Charli XCX album, ‘brat’ has become one of the most talked about words of 2024. More than a hugely successful album, ‘brat’ is a cultural phenomenon that has resonated with people globally.” The dictionary noted that this trend became popular as “brat summer,” shaping fashion, music, and lifestyle choices.
Charli XCX, whose real name is Charlotte Emma Aitchison, describes the “brat” attitude as someone who “is a little messy, likes to party, says some dumb things sometimes, feels herself, but also maybe has a breakdown and parties through it.”
The term gained even more attention when Charli tweeted in July, saying, “Kamala IS brat,” referring to US Vice President Kamala Harris. Harris’s campaign then used Charli’s song 365 in a TikTok video and re-branded its account in a lime green theme, inspired by Charli’s *Brat* album cover.
The album Brat reached number one in the UK and number three in the US, marking a high point in Charli XCX’s career and cementing the word “brat” as a defining term of the year.
