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.

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

Sorry we couldn't help you, Sam.

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™

Let’s throw a parade.

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

Worcestershire sauce was originally made in Worcestershire, England.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.

We would unironically watch every episode of this game show.

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

'Snafu' &amp; 'fubar'

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

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

⚽️📕WORD CUP 2026 ⚽️📕

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

Words (Merriam's Version)

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.

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While it's not yet time for Christmas. It is always 'Christmastime' with our Word Icon @mariahcarey

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

Videos

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

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

Our new LLM. Available now.

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!

We hope you see some this weekend.

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

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

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.

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

Acronyms &amp; Initialisms

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

What is the etymology of 'nickname'?

The superlative Adam Scott can attest that this definition is far from hokum. Hokum

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

New words just dropped.

'No cap' is a slang expression meaning “genuinely; truthfully,” used to emphasize the sincerity or seriousness of a statement.

Everybody wants to rule the words.

i.e. = that is e.g. = for example

grateful | adjective | appreciative of benefits received : feeling or showing thanks Thank you all for a superlative year. Here are some of our most engaged with posts of 2025.

What is the plural of 'attorney general'?

'Snafu' & 'fubar'

Acronyms & Initialisms