The modern workplace is evolving faster than ever, and 2025's language reflects a dramatic transformation driven by artificial intelligence and changing work dynamics.

The editorial team at Merriam-Webster captured this shift by naming 'slop' as the Word of the Year—a term describing low-quality digital content generated by AI. This linguistic milestone highlights how technology is fundamentally reshaping professional communication and productivity.

Among the most intriguing new workplace terms is 'workslop', a clever play on words describing AI-produced work so poorly executed that it actually creates more tasks for human colleagues. A Harvard Business Review survey in autumn 2025 helped cement this term in professional vocabulary, drawing attention to the potential productivity challenges of AI-generated content.

Remote work trends continued to inspire innovative language, with terms like 'microshifting' emerging to describe working in multiple shorter, flexible periods throughout the day. Similarly, 'coffee badging' became a playful form of workplace resistance, where employees briefly visit the office, swipe their badge, grab coffee, and then return to remote work—a subtle pushback against strict return-to-office mandates.

Economic pressures and generational workplace shifts also spawned new terminology. 'Poly-employment' emerged as a descriptor for workers holding multiple jobs, driven by living costs and a desire for diverse professional experiences. Younger workers, particularly Millennials and Gen Z, were dubbed 'office frogs' for frequently changing jobs in search of better pay and work-life balance.

Other fascinating terms included 'hush-tripping'—taking undisclosed time off while technically remaining connected to work—and 'digital nomadism', which represents working permanently while traveling. The increasingly flexible nature of modern work allows these practices to flourish, challenging traditional employment models.

The 9-9-6 work concept also gained traction, reflecting growing workplace pressures and evolving expectations around productivity and personal time. These linguistic innovations reveal more than just trendy vocabulary—they represent deeper cultural shifts in how we conceptualize work, technology, and personal fulfillment.

As AI and remote technologies continue transforming professional landscapes, these buzzwords serve as linguistic signposts, marking our ongoing adaptation to an increasingly dynamic workplace environment.