SINCE 1828

An Encyclopædia Britannica Company

of a

Definition of of a

US, informal

—used to indicate that someone or something is a particular type of person or thing her idiot of a husband It is not that much of a problem. It wasn't that difficult of a shot. How big of a piece do you want?

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up of a? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

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WORD OF THE DAY

depredate

play

to plunder or ravage

Words at Play

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We're Down With You Being—or Your Being?—a Square

It's about (you? your?) having your say.

Devilish Words

Don't blame a word use error on the devil.

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How 'Wonderful' Lost Its Sense of Wonder

A case of semantic bleaching

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Don't Let Reading This Be Another 'Coulda' 'Shoulda' 'Woulda'

PSA: They're three separate words.

Ask the Editors

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Words of the Year: 1066

Or, Why Pig Meat is Called 'Pork' and Cow Meat is Called 'Beef'

How Often Is 'Biweekly'?

Don't get us started on 'bimonthly'

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Irregardless

It is in fact a real word (but that doesn't mean you should use it).

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Weird Plurals

One goose, two geese. One moose, two... moose. What's up with that?

Word Games

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Time Traveler Quiz: Which Word Came First?

Which word entered the English language first?

Take the quiz

Name More Food!

Test your knowledge of food vocabulary!

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Name That Thing

Name That Thing

Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge!

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Syn City

Build a city of skyscrapers—one synonym at a time.

Play the game