Wordplay: For the Love of Language | Merriam-Webster

Popular

The Longest Long Words List

21 words with 21 letters or more

The Opposite of Déjà Vu

When the familiar becomes unrecognizable

Was 'nervous Nellie' a Real Person?

Why do we say 'make a beeline'?

Yes, it does involve bees

Why do we call it a 'flea market'?

Did they ever sell fleas?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

We just can’t bananaquit them

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

We’ve seen fire, we’ve seen rain, and we have many words for them

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

And why isn't it 'bury the lead'?

Word Choices

Gabrielle Zevin

Emily Flake

New Yorker Cartoonist

Celeste Ng

Eli Cymet

Video Game Writer/Producer, Cuphead

Emma Straub

Novelist and Children’s Book Author

Arts & Culture

A List of The U.S. Military Ranks in Order

From Private to General of the Army

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

Here's how all this nonsense started

What does 'eighty-six' mean?

We won't refuse you service

The Changing Meaning of 'Elope'

Read this before you elope. Or 'elope.'

8 Words and Phrases from U.S. Presidents

How to sound presidential

Foreign

'In Vino Veritas' and Other Latin Phrases to Live By

Top 10 Latin Phrases

10 of Our Favourite British Words

Please don't whinge about being knackered, you prat.

Digging Up the Latin Roots of 14 Abbreviations

Beyond 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

All About Latin Plurals

Check your dictionary

Skunk, Bayou, and Other Words with Native American Origins

You've used more than you might think

Games & Hobbies

10 Words for Lesser-Known Games and Sports

Are you ready for some stoolball?

Winning Scrabble Words for Everyday People

You don't have to be a pro to play these words.

12 Words From Basketball

Plus a few terms that never quite made it

Popular Gaming Terms Explained

Nerfs, MMORPGs, and who the final boss really is

A Player's Guide to 'Q' without 'U' Words

Remember this and win.

Science & Nature

Fruit vs. Vegetable

Are you sure you know which is what?

7 Especially Fitting Common Names for Plants

So you don't mix up your Swiss Cheese plants with your Dutchman's Breeches

12 Words for Signs of Spring

Spring is springing

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Words for uncommon fears

7 Luscious, Fruit-Based Idioms

For a touch of sweetness or acidity

Word History

How long is a jiffy?

It depends who you ask

'Pathetic': A History

An in-depth chronicle of inadequacy

7 Run-Down Words That Have Seen Better Days

They've taken a hit but are still standing.

Compound Words That Used to Make a Lot More Sense

How 'jack' met 'pot.' How 'wed' met 'lock.'

What Does 'Wi-Fi' Really Mean?

It’s probably not what you think