‘Binge-watch’ named Collins Word of the Year

A dramatic change in the way we watch television has led to “binge-watch” being named the Collins Word of the Year 2015.

Lexicographers, the people who compile dictionaries, have seen a 200% increase in its usage on last year as the viewers watch TV shows in different ways.

A survey found that 92% of viewers admitted to “binge-watching”, viewing more than three episodes of a series in one day, with 37% having spent an entire weekend watching one show, according to digital video recording company Tivo.

This fits in with the CollinsDictionary.com definition: “To watch a large number of television programmes (especially all the shows from one series) in succession.”

Helen Newstead, head of language content at Collins, said: “It’s not uncommon for viewers to binge-watch a whole season of programmes such as House Of Cards or Breaking Bad in just a couple of evenings, something that, in the past, would have taken months, then discuss their binge-watching on social media.”

Other words that have been significant this year include clean eating and dadbod. A diet of “clean eating” refers to one which avoids processed foods and is heavy in raw and unrefined items.

Male binge-watchers who do not watch their diet are in danger of developing a “dadbod”, a plump physique.