Merriam-Webster

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noun | a reference source containing words alphabetically arranged along with information about their forms, pronunciations, functions, and etymologies

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'Goodbye' is an alteration of "God be with you" and its first known use was in 1575. God be with you, 2025 🫡

Take a screenshot of this GIF, and whichever new word you land on is YOUR word for 2026. Let's. Go.

Sorry we couldn't help you, Sam.

No. Such. Thing.

The earliest uses of 'circumvent' referred to a tactic of hunting or warfare in which the quarry or enemy was encircled and captured. Today, 'circumvent' more often suggests avoidance than entrapment. Special Thank You to Will Arnett™

Dear Stephen Colbert, You may be no fan of dictionaries or reference books, but we're fans of yours. ❤️ -The Wordinistas at Merriam-Webster

Worcestershire sauce was originally made in Worcestershire, England. Though the sauce itself likely dates to the early 1800s, our first evidence of the term in use currently dates to 1843. The word is pronounced with blatant disregard for its second syllable.

boudoir | noun | a woman's dressing room, bedroom, or private sitting room

By all means, like this at a glacial pace...

Words (Merriam's Version)

All 'Q' wants for Christmas is 'U.' (Except 'qi,' 'qaud,' 'FAQ,' 'qapik,' 'Iraq,' 'IQ'...)

Dear Autocorrect, Our name is not 'Miriam.' Thank you for your prompt response in this matter. Love always, Merriam-Webster

The Oxford comma (also known as the 'serial comma') is the comma that separates the second to last item in a list from a final item that is introduced by 'and' or 'or.' It is optional...but be aware that not using the serial comma can result in some ambiguity.

Let’s throw a parade.

FWIW: we currently don't include 'deliverable' as a noun but don't tell that to your manager.

'Snafu' &amp; 'fubar'

(opens window)

⚽️📕WORD CUP 2026 ⚽️📕

We don’t want a lot for Christmas, there is just one thing we need, and it’s the Queen of Vocabulary Mariah Carey reading our definition of 'Christmastime.’ #WordIcons

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We are thrilled to announce that our NEW Large Language Model will be released on 11.18.25.

doc = 📝 dock = 🚢⚓️ Doc =👩🏽‍⚕️ The D.O.C. =

This might be the first time in history that a question asked by a dictionary has been answered in zero gravity. Thank you and Godspeed to NASA and the NASAArtemis crew!

Our new LLM. Available now.

🇺🇸 Noah Webster’s spelling reform was based on his combined vision of logic and aesthetics. Thankfully, the publick readily accepted many of these changes. 🇺🇸

You've got this.

A small man in a medium sweatshirt talks about the word 'large.'

dictionary | noun | a book about everything

Oh, be careful, Merriam-Webster, lest we suffer vertigo from the dizzying heights of our lexical ground.

In hoe's favor: we specify that sense of 'hoe' as having a long handle, which we don’t do for 'rake.' In rake's favor: we do not enter 'hoe' as a singular spelling for that meaning, only 'ho' (plural 'hoes'). While ‘rake’ is slightly more correct, we would’ve given it to Ken.

We used to post etymologies. We still do, but we used to, too.

We hope you see some this weekend.

We've got your back, Tina. Both pronunciations of 'route' are acceptable.

What is a 'garden-path sentence'?

'Quisling' named for Vidkun Quisling , a Norwegian politician who helped the German invaders in World War II.

What is the etymology of 'nickname'?

New words just dropped.

final | noun | a deciding match, game, heat, or trial —usually used in plural

“Tahnk you for reaching put! I will be OOOO four the holiday brake and look forward too connection when I return!”

Acronyms &amp; Initialisms

'Snafu' & 'fubar'

Acronyms & Initialisms