listicle
noun

- a newspaper, magazine, or online article that is in the form of a list

- an article consisting of a series of items presented as a list

The Cambridge Dictionary, 

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WORD ORIGIN

“Listicle”, a portmanteau of list and article, follows a common English pattern of blending two words to create a new term that captures elements of both.

The term emerged in the early-to-mid 2000s and gained prominence with the rise of digital journalism and social media sharing. Some websites, such as BuzzFeed, generate hundreds of listicles daily, which helped popularize both the format and the term.

While the term is modern, the format has much older roots. An 1886 speech by Sir John Lubbock which gave a list of around 100 books “which on the whole are perhaps best worth reading” was an early form of listicle,… perhaps we should consider Lubbock the “godfather” of the Wikipedia format. 

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A LISTICLE LISTICLE
The 7 Things You Need to Know about Listicles (You won’t believe #7 !)

1. Listicles Are Older Than You Think

    The term “listicle” (a blend of “list” and “article”) may feel modern, but numbered lists date back centuries. Medieval scholars used lists to organize knowledge, and even the Ten Commandments could be considered an ancient listicle. Their structured format has always appealed to human brains craving order.

2. They Exploit Cognitive Bias

     Listicles tap into the “chunking” phenomenon, where our brains process information better in small, organized bits. The numbered format makes complex topics feel digestible, which is why we’re drawn to them.

3. Our Brains Process Lists 40% Faster

     Neuroscience research reveals that our brains can process information presented in list format up to 40% faster than traditional paragraphs.

4. Traffic Magnets
     
Listicles drove roughly 2x more traffic than how-to articles in 2025, making them one of the most effective formats for boosting blog and website engagement.

5. Link-Building Power
     
Other websites and blogs reference listicles as trusted resources, driving valuable organic backlinks that further push search rankings.

6. The Number Matters

     Studies show odd numbers (like 7 or 11) or round numbers like 10 perform better in listicles because they feel “complete” or intriguing. Our brains perceive odd numbers as more authentic and less “manufactured,” making “The 7 Things You Need to Know…” more compelling than “The 8 Things You Need to Know…”

7. You Won't Believe It!
     The upfront claim that “You won’t believe #7” is the fastest way to make readers distrust #7 !

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SYNONYMS

bullet-point article, bulleted content, enumerated article, itemized article, list article, list-format piece, LISTICLE, list post, numbered article, numbered feature

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SMUGGLE
 OWAD into a conversation today, say something like:

“People read LISTICLES to feel smarter,… but end up knowing 7 weird uses for toothpaste!”

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P L E A S E   S U P P O R T   O W A D