The Lost meaning of Words

I was recently teaching an economics unit to a class of high school freshmen and asked them a simple question: “What does sustainable mean?”

Silence.

Eventually, I asked them to look it up. They did—and shared their answers:

“Using solar panels.”

“Wind farms.”

“Not using up oil so future generations have enough.”

Not wrong, but not quite right either.

I pushed them further. “OK, next week I’m running a marathon. If I run a mile in under 5 minutes, is that sustainable for the whole race?”

Laughter. “No, probably not.”

“Right. So you do understand the word. Now, explain how that has anything to do with solar panels.”

Blank stares.

And that’s the problem. I have nothing against solar panels or good environmental stewardship. But as an educator, I’m deeply concerned about something more foundational: the meanings of the words we use, teach, and trust.

When Words Drift

We live in a time when powerful words are used constantly—by politicians, corporations, educators, activists—but often with blurred, vague, or stretched meanings. And when a word means everything, it can quickly mean nothing.

Let’s consider a few commonly used in education today:

Sustainable

Once a clear term about long-term viability, it’s now become shorthand for “eco-friendly,” regardless of actual performance or practicality. A solar panel that needs replacement every 10 years and is made with rare-earth mining? Is that sustainable—or just marketed that way?

Equity

Do we mean equal access, equal outcomes, opportunity or differentiated treatment to achieve fairness? The word “equity” is used in policy and reform, but often lacks a shared definition. Without clarity, debate becomes confusion.

Inclusion

Originally about ensuring no one is left out, it’s now a word that can mean everything from accommodating disability to enforcing ideological alignment. Are we including people, or including only those who agree with us?

If I stand up in a conference of educators and say, Education should be inclusive, sustainable and equitable, applause would ensue.  But, I’ll be honest, I have no idea what this means.

My entire life – “equity” meant “ownership.”

Does that mean people encourage education that maintains a rate of ownership for everyone?

Around 2015, a new definition of “equity” started emerging –  equal outcome.

So then maybe educators are calling for education where everyone constanly, regardless of any other circumstance…gets an “A” (or B, C, D E)?

And by raising this point, some may probably label me a….

Racist

An extremely serious accusation—yet one that’s increasingly used not just for personal prejudice, but for structural conditions, systemic gaps, and even disagreements over policy. If everyone and everything is called racist, the term risks losing its necessary moral weight.

And most importantly….

Love

The most profound of human experiences—but one that is now used to market soda, sell insurance, or mask control in the name of care. We say “love is love,” but do we really understand what we’re saying when we use the word.

Why This Matters

When words become loose, truth becomes slippery. Conversations break down. Laws, policies, and education lose their grounding. We end up talking past each other instead of with each other—using the same words, but not the same meanings.

This isn’t a call for perfectionism or linguistic policing. It’s a call for honesty. For clarity. For refusing to let powerful words become hollow slogans or ideological code.

Reclaiming Meaning

As educators, parents, leaders, and citizens, we have to ask more of our language. That starts with:

Asking students to define the words they use.

Challenging easy answers.

Tracing where meanings came from—and how they’ve changed.

Creating space for honest, respectful disagreement.

If we don’t do this, we risk a future where language is used to manipulate, not illuminate.

A simple question such as, “Do you  love me?” Has no simple answer, as the questioner and the responder most likely have different definitions and expectations of the word.

Words shape thought. Thought shapes action. And action shapes the world.

For this reason, my conversations are filled with questions of clarity. Don’t be offended, it means I care about you enough to want good productive and constructive communication. What you mean is more important than what you say.

Let’s fight to keep the definition of our words honest, precise, consistent and powerful.