comma

noun

com·​ma ˈkä-mə 

1

: a punctuation mark, used especially as a mark of separation within the sentence

2

: pause, interval

3

: any of several nymphalid butterflies (genus Polygonia) with a silvery comma-shaped mark on the underside of the hind wings

Examples of comma in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

However, the report noted that much of this rise was due to an increase in the number of billionaires, not just three-comma club members getting richer. — Hayley Cuccinello, CNBC, 2 July 2026

Now another boom, AI, has thrust him back into the three-comma club. — Kirk Ogunrinde, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026

In 2008, the Arizona Republic reported, two visitors to Desert View Watchtower received a yearlong ban from national parks for using a marker and correction fluid to change the text on a sign — moving an apostrophe and adding a comma. — Bay Area News Group, Mercury News, 2 July 2026

The salamanders are still squiggling commas inside them. — Nathan Rott, NPR, 27 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin, from Latin, part of a sentence, from Greek komma segment, clause, from koptein to cut — more at capon

First Known Use

1554, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing comma

• comma fault
• comma splice
• inverted comma

Rhymes for comma

• brahma
• chama
• dama
• drama
• gama
• lama
• llama
• mama
• mamma
• momma
• rama
• sama

Video

The Serial Comma Explained

Why don't they call it the Merriam-Webster comma?

Kids Definition

comma

noun

com·​ma ˈkäm-ə 

: a punctuation mark , used chiefly to show separation of words or word groups within a sentence