article

noun ar·ti·cle \ ˈär-ti-kəl \

Definition of article

1 a :a distinct often numbered section of a writing

an article of the constitution

b :a separate clause

c :a stipulation in a document (such as a contract or a creed)

articles of indenture

d :a nonfictional prose composition usually forming an independent part of a publication (such as a magazine)

wrote an article for the newspaper

2 :an item of business :matter

3 grammar :any of a small set of words or affixes (such as a, an, and the) used with nouns to limit or give definiteness to the application

4 :a member of a class of things; especially :an item of goods

articles of value

5 :a thing or person of a particular and distinctive kind or class

the genuine article

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Examples of article in a Sentence

I just read an interesting article on the city's early history.
He has published numerous articles in scholarly journals.
Article 3 of the U.S. Constitution.
The company amended its articles of incorporation.

Recent Examples of article from the Web

Warren chronicled Gunn's struggles — including dropping acid at age 13, near-death overdoses and prison stints — in a Courier-Journal article on Sunday's front page.

— The Courier-Journal, "Mötley Crüe's Nikki Sixx to interview CJ reporter and former heroin dealer she profiled," 30 Aug. 2017
The article also misidentified which Fowler family member wrote a passage suggesting that African-Americans were racially inferior.

— New York Times, "Corrections: August 30, 2017," 29 Aug. 2017
In a strange coincidence, both articles on the front page of the Statesman’s Outdoors section on August 1 mentioned the same insect — the Mormon Cricket.

— glenna christensen, idahostatesman, "Mormons and those crickets do indeed have a shared history," 25 Aug. 2017
This article was provided to The Associated Press by the personal finance website NerdWallet.

— philip reed, The Seattle Times, "5 Times When You Should Buy Your Leased Car," 24 Aug. 2017
The full text of this article is available to Discover Magazine subscribers only.

— tony dajer, Discover Magazine, "No Relief," 21 Aug. 2017
This article originally appeared on Spoon U and was written by Madison Mordoh.

— spoon u, Teen Vogue, "8 Things You Didn't Know About Being a Food Instagrammer," 18 Aug. 2017
Preservationists had their chance Recent articles about the status of old Nichols Library illustrate yet again what is wrong in this country.

— Naperville Sun, "Letters to the editor: Many views of old Nichols Library," 18 Aug. 2017
Beginner 10 lunges 10 jumping jacks 30 toe touches Intermediate 10 squats 10 push-ups 30 bicycle crunches Advanced 10 burpees 20 mountain climbers 30 high knees This article originally appeared in the September '17 issue.

— michael hainey, Esquire, "The 12-Minute Hotel-Room Workout," 17 Aug. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'article.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of article

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin articulus joint, division, diminutive of artus joint, limb; akin to Greek arariskein to fit — more at arm

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First Known Use: 13th century

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article Synonyms

Synonyms

essay, composition, paper, theme

Related Words

causerie; column, commentary, editorial, feature, report, review, write-up; dissertation, thesis; tract, treatise; discourse, discussion, exposition, prolegomenon, study

article

verb

Definition of article

articled; articling \-k(ə-)liŋ\

transitive verb

:to bind by articles (as of apprenticeship) (see ¹article 1c)

He went to Durham Grammar School, was articled to a solicitor in Newcastle at seventeen, moved to another firm in London at twenty …
—T. J. Binyon

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Examples of article in a Sentence

He articled at the famous law firm many years ago.

Origin and Etymology of article

see ¹article

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1693

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ARTICLE Defined for English Language Learners

article

noun

Definition of article for English Language Learners

: a piece of writing about a particular subject that is included in a magazine, newspaper, etc.
: a particular kind of object
: a separate part of a legal document that deals with a single subject