2015's Word of the Year is the Face with Tears of Joy emoji

This year in language can be summed up using the Face with Tears of Joy emoji, according to Oxford Dictionaries, which named the emoji as its Word of the Year.

The Word of the Year is typically awarded to a word or expression that reflects the passing year in language. While the emoji has been a staple part of messaging for some time, there has been an increase in usage and discussion this year.

Oxford Dictionaries said, “Emojis are no longer the preserve of texting teens. Instead, they have been embraced as a nuanced form of expression, and one which can cross language barriers.”