Cheers erupted in the Boston Common as a nearly 60-year-old, 48-foot tree was lit for the 80th annual Boston Holiday Tree Lighting. Bostonians were excited to be back to Boston Common after last year’s virtual celebration.

At the end of every year, a bunch of smart people with linguistics and English degrees (or just a keyboard and an electronic soapbox) announce their “word of the year.” Geoff Nunberg is a name you...