2020

Lockdown began then

2020 refers to the year that became synonymous with global disruption—the COVID-19 pandemic, widespread lockdowns, and social upheaval.

The number now carries cultural weight beyond its calendar meaning: That's so 2020 suggests something absurdly chaotic or catastrophically unlucky.

What a 2020 moment.

pandemic

COVID-19

WHO-named 2019 coronavirus

outbreak · social distancing · mask · vaccine · flatten the curve · ventilator · PPE · isolation · transmission · Wuhan

Olympics

Tokyo

Japan's capital city

2021 · athletes · torch relay · rescheduling · Japan · IOC · qualification

election

Biden

46th American president

  • TrumpAmerican political surname
  • ballotVoting document
  • votingFormally registering a choice

electoral college · swing state · mail-in voting · debate · polls · campaign · November · voter turnout · battleground · recount

technology

Zoom

Video call platform

contact tracing apps · TikTok · Among Us · Animal Crossing · drive-in · livestream · online learning · curbside pickup · QR codes · touchless

social-movement

Black Lives Matter

Civil rights movement against racist violence

  • BLMRacial justice movement initials
  • protestPublic expression of disapproval
  • racial justiceFairness regardless of ethnicity

George Floyd · police brutality · demonstration · march · activism · solidarity · systemic racism · Juneteenth · civil rights · reform

leap-year

leap day

February's occasional extra

events

Australian bushfires

Uncontrolled flames in eucalyptus country

Kobe Bryant · Brexit · wildfires · derecho · explosion · koalas · Amazon fires

Opposites
pandemic era vs. pre-pandemic normalcy

20202019

Final pre-pandemic year

pre-pandemic · 2018 · normalcy · 2017 · business as usual

historical decade character

20201920s

Post-WWI American decade

1920 · 1999

year quality/desirability

20201969

Late sixties year

1989 · 2000 · 1945 · jubilee year · banner year

Phrases
Familiarity
Top 100,000
Profile
Known to kids · Used worldwide · Negative · Everyday, not technical · Rated G