Word Spy - 9/11

9/11

(nyn uh.lev.un) n. September 11, 2001, the date of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in Washington. —adj. Also: 9-11.

Example Citation:

"Some days, I just want a normal life like other women," said Kristen Breitweiser, who lost her husband, Ronald. "I want to go food shopping. I want to bake an apple pie. I don't want to be a 9/11 widow for the rest of my life."
—Andrew Jacobs, "Emerging From Cocoon of Grief," The New York Times, September 9, 2002

Earliest Citation:

"Remember Pearl Harbor" became the rallying cry of generation of Americans battling for freedom against tyranny after a Dec. 7, 1941, Japanese attack. . . . "Remember 9/11" will be the rallying cry of this generation of Americans standing for freedom against terrorism.
—"Remember 9/11," Duluth News Tribune, September 12, 2001

Notes:

This term — voted Word of the Year for 2001 by the American Dialect Society — became a part of the lexicon literally overnight. By September 12, 2001, most of the world knew or could easily figure out what 9/11 meant. This was even true (although to a lesser extent) in countries (such as Canada, Britain, and Australia) where 9/11 means November 9. Dozens of newspapers and magazines used 9/11 in their September 12 editions, so coming up with the earliest citation is meaningless. The one above is a typical example from that day.

Categories:

Acronyms and Abbreviations
Military
Terrorism

Posted on September 8, 2002