'Vape' named word of the year 2014 The word of the year does not need to have been coined in the last year but must have become prominent or notable during that time. In fact, the word vape dates back to the 1980s. Its earliest known use is in an article titled Why Do People Smoke? in New Society in 1983 in which the author, Rob Stepney, used the word to describe a hypothetical device being explored at the time. He wrote presciently of "an inhaler or non-combustible cigarette, looking much like the real thing, but...delivering a metered dose of nicotine vapour. The new habit, if it catches on, would be known as vaping . Shortlisted words this year included "normcore" a trend in which ordinary, unfashionable clothing is worn as a deliberate fashion statement. Others were "contactless," meaning to pay via an electronic reader, and "slacktivism," meaning actions performed on the internet in support of a noble cause, but requiring little effort. Last year's word of the year was selfie.