The word of the year for 2011, chosen by the American Dialect Society, was 'occupy', though some radical spirits recommended 'a**holocracy', which they defined as rule by multi-millionaires. The Japanese, more optimistically, chose 'kizuna', meaning 'bond', referring to people coming together in the face of the triple economic disasters of earthquake, tsunami and nuclear plant meltdown at Fukushima.
But business and political leaders of the world should beware - the word of the year for 2012 or 2013 could be 'dystopia' unless they get their act together and do something to ameliorate the dangerously growing risks of an unequal world.
'Dystopia' is a good word for business, political and opinion leaders to consider as they pack their warm woolly underwear and snow boots for the annual pilgrimage to Davos to give their opinions to the World Economic Forum (WEF) and the world next week.
It is appropriate because 'dystopia' is the key word in the 'Global Risks 2012' report just issued by the WEF. It is even more apposite because there is something highly dystopian about this year's annual meeting, given that many of the political figures attending are in danger of losing their jobs or disappearing into irrelevance.
This year's Davos get-together precedes presidential elections in France and the US, which may change the political landscape. In China, President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao are about to hand over to new leaders whose views and policy prescriptions are largely unknown, but talk from Beijing of the dangers of a looming 'new cold war' does not suggest that Sino-US relations are going to get any easier.
In Russia, the known unknown in the shape of Vladimir Putin will become president again, but even he may face protests against corruption and the dead hand of government that have spread across the Middle East. Such unrest may also infect Europe if its leaders cannot be more imaginative and positive in their economic policies.