'Brat' named Collins word of the year, embraced by Charli XCX fans and Kamala Harris supporters

The term "brat," popularized by singer Charli XCX and adopted by Kamala Harris supporters, was crowned Collins Dictionary's Word of the Year 2024. Originally a playful insult for unruly kids, “brat” now symbolizes a “confident, independent, and hedonistic attitude,” Collins announced Friday.

The redefinition of “brat” traces back to Charli XCX’s sixth album, which topped UK charts and inspired the “brat summer” trend, an aesthetic embraced by fans and beyond. Collins described it as “a cultural phenomenon that has resonated with people globally.”

Charli XCX, 32, whose real name is Charlotte Emma Aitchison, describes a “brat” as a spirited person who might make mistakes but celebrates life regardless. “Kamala IS brat,” she tweeted in July, sparking Harris’s campaign to adopt the term, even rebranding with a lime-green photo inspired by the Brat album cover and using Charli’s hit song "365" in campaign content on TikTok.

The crossover appeal of the “brat” aesthetic underscores its global reach, with Collins noting that it’s “more than a hugely successful album” but also “a way of life” that resonates across cultural lines.