The Cambridge Dictionary named ‘hallucinate’ as its Word of the Year for 2023, after updating its meaning to reflect its new-found usage in the world of artificial intelligence (AI).
We explain the meaning of ‘hallucinate’, and why the Cambridge Dictionary chose it as its Word of the Year.
Hallucinating ‘false information’
“To seem to see, hear, feel, or smell something that does not exist, usually because of a health condition or because you have taken a drug.” This used to be the definition of ‘hallucinate’ in the Cambridge Dictionary prior to 2023.