An analysis of Google search data for 2026 has revealed the most searched word definitions in South Africa and its different provinces.
We all do it. Sometimes, you forget the definition of a word or hear a word for the first time and secretly search for its meaning.
Other times, you just want to make 100% sure that you understand a word before using it.
Research conducted by word-unscrambling experts at Unscramblerer.com revealed the most searched word definitions in South Africa for 2026 so far.
The experts analysed Google Trends search data under the term “definition” from 1 January to 15 July 2026.
Unscramblerer.com used Google Trends to discover the most searched word definitions and Ahrefs to determine the number of searches.
South Africa’s most searched word definitions can be found on Google Trends by searching for terms such as “definition”, “define” and “definition of”.
Ahrefs also shows variations of word-definition searches, such as “What is the definition of empathy?” and “Define love”.
Here are South Africa’s most searched word definitions, based on monthly searches:
- Narcissist: 38 200 searches
- Gaslighting: 36 300 searches
- Love: 34 500 searches
- Anxiety: 31 000 searches
- Metaphor: 30 800 searches
- Integrity: 28 500 searches
- Fatigue: 26 200 searches
- Agile: 25 000 searches
- Stress: 23 700 searches
- Spiritual: 23 500 searches
- Capacity: 23 400 searches
- Clingy: 23 200 searches
- Equity: 22 800 searches
- Nonchalant: 22 700 searches
- Democracy: 22 600 searches
- Ethics: 22 400 searches
- Science: 22 200 searches
- Empathy: 21 200 searches
- Grace: 21 000 searches
- Resilience: 19 500 searches
- Power: 18 000 searches
- Corruption: 14 700 searches
- Discernment: 14 100 searches
- Eligible: 12 900 searches
- Apathy: 9 400 searches
South Africa’s most searched word definition by province:
- Mpumalanga: Nonchalant
- Limpopo: Narcissist
- Northern Cape: Spiritual
- Eastern Cape: Resilience
- Free State: Spiritual
- North West: Gaslighting
- Western Cape: Integrity
- Gauteng: Grace
- KwaZulu-Natal: Agile
“One of the most striking findings is that South Africa’s most searched definitions in 2026 are dominated by abstract concepts rather than objects. From gaslighting and narcissist to integrity and democracy, people are searching for words that help them navigate relationships, emotions and the wider world.
“Our research shows that emotional wellbeing, values, society and personal growth are the categories that stand out the most. Emotional wellbeing words include gaslighting, narcissist, love, anxiety, stress, fatigue, empathy, clingy, nonchalant and apathy.
“Values-based and societal words include integrity, democracy, equity, ethics, corruption, power and capacity. Personal growth and educational words include resilience, discernment, spiritual, science, metaphor, agile, grace and eligible.
“People are searching for definitions to better understand personal experiences and public conversations,” said a spokesperson for Unscramblerer.com.
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