According to Oxford University Press, the official overseer of the English language, the word of the year is "carbon neutral".
The rise of carbon neutral reflects the growing importance of the green movement in the United States.
Erin McKean, editor in chief of the New Oxford American Dictionary 2e, said "The increasing use of the word carbon neutral reflects not just the greening of our culture, but the greening of our language. When you see first graders trying to make their classrooms carbon neutral, you know the word has become mainstream."