No surprise here: "Bailout" is the Word of the Year 2008, according to Merriam Webster, which just announced its list of the year’s top ten words and definitions as culled from its popular Web site Merriam-Webster OnLine ( www.Merriam-Webster.com).
According to their press release, the 2008 Merriam-Webster’s Words of the Year list is based on users’ anonymous hits to the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary and Online Thesaurus.
Interesting side note: holder of the #3 spot is "socialism."