Non-binary pronoun 'they' has been named the 2019 word of the year by Merriam-Webster, three months after being added to the US dictionary.
One of 530 new words added in September, Merriam-Webster's entry for the singular personal pronoun reads: "Used to refer to a single person whose gender identity is non-binary."
Taking to social media, the dictionary revealed that 'they' has enjoyed a surge in use throughout the year, likely buoyed by celebrities including singer Sam Smith and model Oslo Grace revealing that they identify with the pronoun.
In a tweet, it was revealed that searches for 'they' on Merriam-Webster's website had increased by 313 per cent when compared to 2018.
According to BBC, Merriam-Webster's editor-at-large, Peter Sokolowski, said the news "reflects a surprising fact: even a basic term - a personal pronoun - can rise to the top of our data."
Sokolowski added: "Although our look-ups are often driven by events in the news, the dictionary is also a primary resource for information about language itself, and the shifting use of 'they' has been the subject of increasing study and commentary in recent years.
"English famously lacks a gender-neutral singular pronoun to correspond neatly with singular pronouns like 'everyone' or 'someone', and as a consequence 'they' has been used for this purpose for over 600 years."
When Sam Smith came out as non-binary in March, he told fans on social media that they would now be using 'they/them' pronouns, writing: "I understand there will be many mistakes and misgendering, but all I ask is you please please try. I hope you can see me like I see myself now."
