Isms: Original views on life from rural America

What does it mean to be authentic?

Credible. Trustworthy. Real. Genuine.

These synonyms for the 2023 word of the year, as selected by the folks at Merriam-Webster, make an important statement about the times in which we live.

In an interview with the Associated Press, editor-at-large Peter Sokolowski said searches on the dictionary’s website for the definition of “authentic” are normally high. But in 2023, Sokolowski reported searches were “boosted to new heights.”

“We see in 2023 a kind of crisis of authenticity,” he said to AP. “What we realize is that when we question authenticity, we value...