It was picked along with fiscal cliff, Romneyshambles as some of Collins Dictionary's words of the year. Fiscal cliff and Romneyshambles were drawn from American politics.
On the choice of the three words, Ian Brookes, the dictionary's consultant editor said, "We were looking for words that told the story of the year. Some words are from events that have been and gone and so are not likely to stick around but others are probably here to stay.
Gangnam Style has been heard by so many people that I think it's probably earned the right to go into the dictionary."
Source: Reuters