Oxford Word of the Year: Locavore

Locavore - that's the New Oxford American Dictionary's Word of the Year. Locavore was coined only two years ago at World Environment Day 2005 by Jessica Prentice, a San Francisco chef and author.

The word was invented to describe the practice of eating locally-grown foods, specifically those grown within a 100-mile radius of where you live. Awareness of local eating has been growing over the last several decades, and now it has organized movements like the Locavores and the 100 Mile Diet.

Do you think this was a good choice on the part of Oxford? Has this movement gained enough traction to own the word of the year?

Categories: Healthy Living

Posted by Faith Durand

Faith Durand is the executive editor of The Kitchn and the author of Bakeless Sweets: Pudding, Panna Cotta, Fluff, Icebox Cake, and More No-Bake Desserts. She lives in Columbus, Ohio.
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Comments (2)

"Don't taze me bro! Owww! Don't taze me bro!"
-some guy from University of FL

My vote would be for "cougar." More people have probably heard or said this word than "locavore."

Of course I love the word and philosophy behind locavore but I just don't imagine it on the tips of mainstream American's tongues. But it is definitely a classier contender than "taze" or "cougar."

Im a huge fan of the word, so it has my vote!