(nyn uh.lev.un)
n.
September 11, 2001, the date of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in Washington. — adj. Also: 9-11.
Example Citation:"Some days, I just want a normal life like other women," said Kristen Breitweiser, who lost her husband, Ronald. "I want to go food shopping. I want to bake an apple pie. I don't want to be a 9/11 widow for the rest of my life."
— Andrew Jacobs, "Emerging From Cocoon of Grief," The New York Times, September 9, 2002
Earliest Citation:"Remember Pearl Harbor" became the rallying cry of generation of Americans battling for freedom against tyranny after a Dec. 7, 1941, Japanese attack. . . . "Remember 9/11" will be the rallying cry of this generation of Americans standing for freedom against terrorism.
— "Remember 9/11," Duluth News Tribune, September 12, 2001
Notes:This term — voted Word of the Year for 2001 by the American Dialect Society: http://www.americandialect.org — became a part of the lexicon literally overnight. By September 12, 2001, most of the world knew or could easily figure out what 9/11 meant. This was even true (although to a lesser extent) in countries (such as Canada, Britain, and Australia) where 9/11 means November 9. Dozens of newspapers and magazines used 9/11 in their September 12 editions, so coming up with the earliest citation is meaningless.The one above is a typical example from that day.
Related Words:asymmetric warfare
bioterrorist
first preventers
Fogust
fourth-generation warfare
franchise terrorism
Generation 9-11
homicide bombing
no planer
post-traumatic job switcher
shoeicide bomber
so September 10
suicide bomber
truther
VBIED
VUCA
Categories:Acronyms and Abbreviations
Military
Terrorism