'Single-use' has been selected as Collins Dictionary's Word of the Year 2018, highlighting the mainstream environmental issues with how we use - and throw away - plastic and other products.
Each year Collins Dictionary chooses a Word of the Year, which often highlights the biggest conversation or trend of the year, with previous winners including, Fake News (2017), Brexit (2016) and Binge-Watch (2015).
Single-use products have come into focus following the award-winning documentary, Blue Planet II, which highlighted the damage our throw-away plastics is doing to the ocean, our ocean's wildlife and the climate.
This has been followed with the European Parliament backing a ban on single-use plastics like cotton buds, disposable tableware and straws (a move backed by pub chain Wetherspoon who banned plastic straws in 2018).
Single-use: Made to be used once only (adjective)
The total list of words nominated for the Word of the Year are as follows:
Backstop
A system that will come into effect if no other arrangement is made (noun)
Floss
A dance in which people twist their hips in one direction while swinging their arms in the opposite direction with the fists closed (noun)
Gammon
A person, typically male, middle-aged, and white, with reactionary views, especially one who supports the withdrawal of Britain from the European Union (noun)
Gaslight
To attempt to manipulate (a person) by continually presenting them with false information until they doubt their sanity (verb)
MeToo
Denoting a cultural movement that seeks to expose and eradicate predatory sexual behaviour, especially in the workplace (adjective)
Plogging
A recreational activity, originating in Sweden, that combines jogging with picking up litter (noun)
Single-use
Made to be used once only (adjective)
VAR
Abbreviation for video assistant referee
Vegan
A person who refrains from using any animal product whatever for food, clothing, or any other purpose (noun)
Whitewash
To cast a white actor in the role of (a character from a minority ethnic group) or to produce (a film or play) using white actors to play characters from a minority ethnic group (verb)
