"Austerity" -- Merriam-Webster WORD of the YEAR (2010)

Reflecting the grim state of the global economy, "austerity" tops the list of Merriam-Webster's Top Ten Words of the year for 2010.

The language-reference publisher compiles the list each year according to the volume of user-lookups at Merriam-Webster.com in response to current events and conditions.
Merriam-Webster defines austerity as "enforced or extreme economy" and says lookups for the word peaked dramatically during the year because of global economic conditions and the debt crises in Europe.
"Austerity clearly resonates with many people," said Peter Sokolowski, editor at large at Merriam-Webster, who monitors online dictionary searches. "We often hear it used in the context of government measures, but we also apply it to our own personal finances and what is sometimes called the new normal."

Here's the full list:
1. austerity

3. moratorium

4. socialism

5. bigot

6. doppelganger

7. shellacking

8. ebullient

9. dissident

10. furtive