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

Cooking by weight would fix this, but since volume is the American default, the comma denotes an important difference. —Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 31 Aug. 2025

In the business world, a comma can carry enormous weight—especially in legal disputes. —Jason Richmond, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025

Names and figures are facts; commas can be, too. —Zach Helfand, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2025

Gemini, on the other hand, doesn’t include punctuation beyond commas and periods. —PC Magazine, 7 July 2025

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