The Australian Word of the Year has laid bare a sad reality for millions of people across the country struggling with the cost of living.
Researchers from the Australian National University (ANU) chose ‘Colesworth’ as Word of the Year for 2024.
The term, which is a combination of Coles and Woolworths, was chosen in reference to anger over the dominance of the two supermarket giants.
The word is a popular expression on social media, with dozens of Australians using it to vent about rising food prices in both supermarkets.
“We are tired of paying such high prices for only quality food from ColesWorth,” one social media user wrote.
“Colesworth is ruining my life!” another added.
Senior researcher at the ANU’s National Dictionary Center Mark Gwynn said the word has grown in popularity even though it has been used for several years.
“Aussies walk out of the supermarket with less after paying more, only to hear news of huge profits in the supermarket sector,” Gwynn said.
Researchers from the Australian National University (ANU) chose Colesworth as Word of the Year for 2024, referring to the two supermarket giants (stock image)
‘The combination of the supermarket names Coles and Woolworths in Colesworth provides a succinct way of referring to both supermarkets whilst pointing to the negative aspects of what is seen as an unfair duopoly.’
The anger at the supermarket giants comes after Sydney-based firm GMP Law filed a lawsuit against Coles and Woolworths last week.
The lawsuit, filed in the Federal Court, has accused the companies of charging unreliable sales prices to customers.
The case follows separate lawsuits brought by the ACCC against Coles and Woolworths in September for alleged breaches of Australian consumer law.
The competition watchdog accused both supermarkets of misleading consumers by offering discount prices on hundreds of supermarket products.
The heads of Coles and Woolworths were previously questioned during a Senate inquiry into supermarket prices in April.
Figures from the ACCC show that the price of a shopping basket in Australia increased by 24 per cent between March 2019 and June 2024.
The other words shortlisted this year were break, climate trigger, ute tax and YIMBY (yes in my backyard).
The term breaking became popular after Australian athlete Raygun’s performance at the Paris Olympics.
Researchers from ANU chose the word ‘Matilda’ as their word of the year for 2023, following the support the Australian women’s football team received during their World Cup campaign last year.