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

The second text has exam English capital letters, commas and spelling. —Laura Aull, The Conversation, 20 Mar. 2026

Basically, this means a long, wavy line of thunderstorms—which can be seen trailing down from the low-pressure area in a classic comma shape on weather maps. —Andrea Thompson, Scientific American, 16 Mar. 2026

Even in her extended answers, her quote might stretch to a sentence that involved a comma. —Chantel Jennings, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2026

Each of the four tracks on At Source has a two-word title, split down the middle with a comma. —Hattie Lindert, Pitchfork, 2 Mar. 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