The peculiarities of modeling the reality by lexical units on the example of the representation of rating rubric «Word of the year» of English dictionaries

This paper investigates the peculiarities of modeling objective reality through lexical units, specifically examining the «Word of the Year» (WOTY) rubrics of major authoritative English dictionaries (Oxford English Dictionary (OED), Merriam-Webster, Collins English Dictionary, Cambridge Dictionary). The study argues that the WOTY selection process is a form of modeling and reflecting the contemporary reality, where specific lexical items are elevated to represent complex societal shifts. The modeling mechanisms of the «Word of the Year» rubric function as a micro-model of human reality, which operates through specific processes: the mechanism of onomasiological selection (the process of choosing a name (word) for a specific object or concept); the mechanism of semantic condensation (the ability of a word to compress a large volume of meanings, associations, and cultural contexts within itself); and the discursive-evaluative mechanism (a way of presenting information that not only describes a fact but also imposes a certain evaluation on it through context). By analyzing the WOTY selections from recent years (2022–2025), the research identifies four key realities – such as: the crisis reality, the technological reality, the psychological and social reality, the synthetic reality – that dominate the contemporary linguistic worldview. Using 2025 as a focal point, the study analyzes the shift from descriptive lexical units to strategic, intent-based ones. The current lexical trend reflects a shift toward a digital system of manipulation defined by engineered provocation and autonomous AI‑generated content. The findings suggest that modern lexicography has transcended simple documentation, acting instead as an interpretative lens that structures and categorizes the chaotic reality of the post-digital age.