This week’s theme
Words that have entered the language during the last 25 years

This week’s words
upcycling
selfie
mansplain
gamification
bingeable

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A.Word.A.Day

PRONUNCIATION:

(gay-mi-fi-KAY-shuhn)

MEANING:

noun: The application of game-related elements to an activity to make it more engaging.

ETYMOLOGY:

From game, from Old English gaman (entertainment) + -fication (making), from facere (to do or make). Earliest documented use: 2008.

NOTES:

Typical elements of gamification include progressively increasing challenges, awarding of points or rewards, adding surprises, etc. Should we offer badges and points to readers who send out gift subscriptions of A.Word.A.Day? Badges or not, please do send it to friends and family. That's the only way the word spreads. Help us in our mission of spreading the joy of words.

USAGE:

“Part of its approach involves gamification -- necessary, Neoma says, to hold those wandering minds.”
Helen Barrett; The Gamified Generation Has Hit Business School; Financial Times (London, UK); Sep 10, 2018.

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY: