“Vibe Coding” Wins Word of the Year, Heralding an Era of Accessible Programming

Collins Dictionary has crowned “vibe coding” its 2025 Word of the Year, a choice that celebrates a profound shift in technology: the democratization of software development. The term refers to the use of artificial intelligence to translate natural, conversational language into computer code, a practice that is breaking down long-standing technical barriers.
Coined in February by AI pioneer Andrej Karpathy, “vibe coding” captures the idea that a person no longer needs to learn complex programming languages to build an app. They simply need to describe their “vibe” or vision to an AI, which then handles the technical execution. This has implications for creativity, entrepreneurship, and education.
Alex Beecroft, Collins’ managing director, highlighted this, stating the term “signals a major shift in software development, where AI is making coding more accessible.” He called it a “seamless integration of human creativity and machine intelligence.”
This optimistic vision of AI’s potential triumphed over a “tech-heavy” list that also included “clanker,” a derogatory term for AI. This contrast shows the dual nature of our relationship with this technology: we see it as both an empowering tool (“vibe coding”) and a frustrating obstacle (“clanker”).
The 2025 list also included “broligarchy” (the tech elite), “biohacking” (DIY health), “Henry” (economic anxiety), and “taskmasking” (workplace anxiety), painting a full picture of the world this new, accessible technology is entering.