“Femminicidio” (femicide) is the most consulted word since the start of 2026 on the Treccani.it portal among the neologisms that have now entered Italian-language dictionaries. The figure brings back into focus a term closely tied to one of the most dramatic social phenomena and news topics of recent years.
The word had already been chosen by the Istituto dell’Enciclopedia Italiana (Institute of the Italian Encyclopedia) as word of the year in 2023, precisely because of its socio-cultural significance. The term identifies the killing of a woman because of her gender, often arising in a context of violence, subjugation and control by a man.
The fact that “femminicidio” continues to top user searches even in 2026 shows just how deeply the word has become embedded in everyday language and public debate, from news coverage to politics and awareness campaigns against violence against women.
Behind it, in the ranking of most consulted terms, comes “maranza”, a word that in recent years has taken on new meaning, referring mainly to young people belonging to street gangs. Third place goes to “fake news”, followed by “overtourism”, “influencer” and “smart working”.
Rounding out the list are “follower”, “rider”, “meme” and “selfie”. But it is the top spot held by “femminicidio” that represents the most significant finding of the Treccani ranking: a word born out of the need to give a precise name to a phenomenon that continues to occupy a central place in Italian news and society.
