Why ‘selfie’ won word of the year

Post Staff Report

featured

Dec 14, 2013

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Obama (R) and British Prime Minister David Cameron pose for a picture with Denmark's Prime Minister Helle Thorning Schmidt

Barack Obama and British Prime Minister David Cameron pose for a selfie with Denmark’s Prime Minister Helle Thorning Schmidt. Getty Images

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“Selfie” – a self portrait usually on a smartphone or webcam – was selected word of the year on Tuesday by the Oxford Dictionaries, based on a 17,000 percent rise in its usage from a year ago. Here are 21 reasons why… Bauer Griffin

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MariahCarey Twitter via @MariahCarey

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Alessandra Ambrosio Bauer Griffin

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Justin Bieber Bauer Griffin

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Alan Cumming EPA

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Kim Kardashian Bauer Griffin

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Nicki Minaj Bauer Griffin

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Nicki Minaj has some serious competition for most for her raunchy selfies

Nicki Minaj has some serious competition for the most raunchy selfie. Bauer Griffin

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Miley Cyrus Bauer Griffin

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Meryl Streep uses her IPhone to take a photo of her and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton

Female powerhouses Meryl Streep and Hillary Clinton snap a selfie on Streep’s IPhone. AP Photo/Kevin Wolf

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astronaut Aki Hoshide, Expedition 32 flight engineer, uses a digital still camera to expose a photo of his helmet visor during the mission's third session of extravehicular activity

Japanese astronaut Aki Hoshide selfies out in space. AP Photo/Nasa, Aki Hoshide

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@SpideyNikka snaps a selfie while his business teacher Susana Halleck starts going into labor -- it quickly went viral.

In one of the most viral selfies ever, @SpideyNikka snaps one as his business teacher Susana Halleck starts going into labor. Twitter via @SpideyNikka

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Michelle Obama, left, wife of Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., takes a picture with a supporter after speaking at a rally at Buchtel High School

Even the first lady is not afraid of a selfie! An excited supporter takes a selfie with Michelle Obama after a rally at Buchtel High School during the 2008 presidential campaign. AP Photo/Tony Dejak

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Luisa Zissman Bauer Griffin

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Keith Urban takes a selfie photo with a Police Officer fan

New York City police officer selfies with Keith Urban. Al Pereira/WireImage

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take "selfies" in front of a painting by British street artist Banksy

A New Yorker selfies in front of graffiti by British street artist Banksy. John Moore/Getty Images

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Lance Bass (left), Joey Fatone and the Aflac Duck caught taking a selfie while enjoying the New York City skyline.

Lance Bass (left), Joey Fatone and the Aflac Duck selfie with the New York City skyline. AP Images

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Maria Bello, Blair Underwood, Debra Messing, Mariska Hargitay and Danny Pino (L-R) take a selfie during an unveiling ceremony honoring Hargitay with the 2,511th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

Maria Bello, Blair Underwood, Debra Messing, Mariska Hargitay and Danny Pino (L-R) excitedly selfie at the unveiling of Hargitay’s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. NCNA

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Brad Pitt poses for a photo with a fan upon arrival at the South Korea

Brad Pitt smiles for a selfie with a fan after arriving in South Korea. AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon

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Allowing a senior at the senior center to make a "selfie" photo with him is former Congressman ANTHONY WEINER, candidate for Mayor of the City of New York City

A woman snaps a selfie with former Congressman Anthony Weiner, who was running for Mayor of New York City. (Apparently, he’s taking a break from the crotch-ies.) Robert Kalfus

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David Beckham poses for a photograph with unidentified fan during a media event, in a sports store, on the Champs Elysees Avenue, in Paris.

David Beckham poses for a selfie with a fan on the Champs Elysees in Paris. AP Photo/Francois Mori

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Pope Francis has his picture taken inside St. Peter's Basilica with youths from the Italian Diocese of Piacenza and Bobbio who came to Rome for a pilgrimage

Pope Francis has a selfie pic taken inside St. Peter’s Basilica with Italian kids who came to Rome for a pilgrimage. AP Photo/L’Osservatore Romano

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