"Hypermiling" named New Oxford dictionary's Word of the Year
If you are reading this blog, you are likely well aware of the growing green sentiment all over the world. Here in the U.S., gas prices have finally begun to approach what they are on the rest of the globe, and this action has prompted a new word: hypermiling. First coined in 2004, the word took just four years to win Oxford Dictionary's Word of the Year award, proving that eco-friendly driving is on the upswing. Just what is hypermiling? Well, now that it's officially Oxford's Word of the Year, let's ask them.
"Hypermiling" or "to hypermile" is to attempt to maximize gas mileage by making fuel-conserving adjustments to one's car and one's driving techniques. Rather than aiming for good mileage or even great mileage, hypermilers seek to push their gas tanks to the limit and achieve hypermileage, exceeding EPA ratings for miles per gallon."
So, there you have it. The practice may be controversial, but the word is here to stay. Also, in 2006, the Word of the Year was "carbon neutral" and in 2007 it was "locavore." Thanks for the tip, Rebecca!
[Source: Oxford University Press Blog]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Brn 3:58PM (11/11/2008)
I was fine with it, until they threw in the EPA reference. It's unnecessary and limiting.
Reply
Rojo 5:25PM (11/12/2008)
Don't forget the secondary definitions...
hypermiling
2. -v (in.) the method with which an individual or individuals' drive that subsequently causes the wanton destruction of other vehicles and/or other drivers' sanity due to incredibly low acceleration curves, especially during rush hour.
hypermiler
2. -n the negative connotation, most often spoken in great force with high levels of disdain and exasperation for the subject at which it is directed. Often observed when the subject target has just recently caused a multi-car pile-up in the middle of a busy intersection due to inadequate force being placed on the vehicle's accelerator pedal, thus disrupting the normal flow of traffic and ultimately adversely affecting the environment due to considerably increased periods of internal combustion engine idling.
Just the other side of the coin...
Reply
Laryssa 10:46AM (11/21/2008)
Thanks so much for providing us with all this great info about hypermiling. Too Shy to Stop writer Lauren Bucci just did an article for our magazine about hypermiling. You can read the full article here.
Reply
Greg 6:37PM (12/02/2008)
Sigh. That's a pretty broad brush you're swinging there, Rojo.
Like anything else, hypermiling can be taken to obnoxious extremes. Believe it or not, It IS possible to dive with fuel efficiency in mind w/o disrupting surrounding traffic.
Reply