‘Vibe Coding’ is Collins Dictionary's Word of the Year 2025: Know what it means

Collins Dictionary has chosen “vibe coding” as its Word of the Year 2025, underscoring the growing impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on software development and creativity.

Meaning of “Vibe Coding”

The term, popularised by OpenAI co-founder and former Tesla AI director Andrej Karpathy, describes a new way of programming — one where developers create computer programs by simply describing them to an AI chatbot instead of writing code manually.

Karpathy introduced the concept to explain how AI tools can enhance creativity to the extent that he could “forget that the code even exists.”


In essence, “vibe coding” allows people with little or no programming experience to build basic apps and websites through natural language prompts, making coding more accessible than ever.

Collins’ Take on the Word
Alex Beecroft, Managing Director of Collins, said that “vibe coding” captures the evolving relationship between language and technology. The term highlights how conversational AI is reshaping the way humans interact with machines and create software.

Other Shortlisted Words

In addition to “vibe coding,” other notable entries on Collins’ Word of the Year 2025 shortlist include:
“Biohacking”
“Clanker”
“Aura Farming”

These emerging terms reflect the intersection of technology, wellness, and digital culture that continues to shape modern vocabulary.