We’ve written a lot about hypermiling this year at takepart (here, here, here, and here for starters), so obviously it’s something that is on the radar of a lot of people.  Well, the New Oxford American Dictionary has decided to make hypermiling all the more official, as it is the 2008 Word of the Year.  Says the Oxford University Press blog:

“Hypermiling” was coined in 2004 by Wayne Gerdes, who runs this web site. “Hypermiling” or “to hypermile” is to attempt to maximize gas mileage by making fuel-conserving adjustments to one’s car and one’s driving techniques. Rather than aiming for good mileage or even great mileage, hypermilers seek to push their gas tanks to the limit and achieve hypermileage, exceeding EPA ratings for miles per gallon. [via Treehugger]

The word beat out other finalists like, “frugalista,” “moofer,” and “topless meeting,” which is much less sexy than it sounds. Now, it’s important to remember for all you budding hypermilers out there that the practice can be dangerous if done to the extreme.  So use caution if you’re going to try to increase your gas mileage with some of the tips hypermilers will give you.

But takepart at hypermiling.com to learn more, and get some (safe!) tips to increase your fuel efficiency.