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Dictionary.com has named "xenophobia" its 2016 Word of the Year. Its definition: "Fear or hatred of foreigners."

"This particular year saw fear rising to the surface of cultural discourse," the online dictionary said in a statement.

The single most dramatic spike in searches for "xenophobia" came on June 24 — one day after the UK's Brexit referendum returned "yes" vote. That day, searches surged 938%.

Another spike in searches came after President Obama used the word in a speech on June 29 in relation to the rhetoric of then-US Republican nominee Donald Trump.

Syria’s refugee crisis, police shootings in the U.S., are other two major points that drove spikes in the number of users looking up the meaning of “xenophobia" in 2016.