SINCE 1828

An Encyclopædia Britannica Company

Going Greek: 7 Words from the Greek Alphabet

When English borrows from another alphabet

2017 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes

How we chose 'feminism'

alt-5ada140ed3e28

'Preventive' or 'Preventative'?

Odd Habits and Quirks Quiz

Test your knowledge of strange human behaviors.

alt-5ad1116373612

Trump: Den of Thieves and 'Lowlifes'

'a person of low moral character'

Latest Video

2017 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes

How we chose 'feminism'

video-title-words-of-the-year-1066

Words of the Year: 1066

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

The Serial Comma

Why don't they call it the Merriam-Webster comma?

peter_talk_about_word_of_the_year_2016

2016 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes

How we chose 'surreal'

Hot Mess

"The public is a hot mess"

Malaprop

We'll tell you all the perpendiculars

alright-allright-video

Alright vs. All Right

Is 'alright' all right?

backward-index-mystery

The True Story of the Backward Index

These people needed a computer

is-none-singular-or-plural-video

Is None Singular or Plural?

Or both? Or neither?

there-theyre-their-video

There, They're, Their

There, there. We'll sort it out.

video-his-or-her

Is Singular 'They' a Better Choice?

The awkward case of 'his or her'

sneaked-vs-snuck-video

Sneaked vs. Snuck

How the irregular snuck sneaked into the dictionary

word-of-the-year-2015-video

2015 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes

Editor Peter Sokolowski talks about our Word of the Year selections.

how-to-read-a-french-menu-video

How to Read a French Menu

How to amuse-bouche without begging pardon for your French

further-vs-farther-video

Further vs. Farther

They started as same word, but their meanings have drifted apart over time.

video-lay-vs-lie

Lay vs. Lie

Editor Emily Brewster clarifies the difference.

video-title-attorney-generals

Is It 'Attorney Generals' Or 'Attorneys General'?

'Poets laureate'? 'Court-martials'? The curious history of postpositive adjectives in English.

fun-funner-funnest

Fun, Funner, Funnest

Why does it sound strange to say 'funner' or 'funnest?'

video-20014-word-of-the-year

2014 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes

The inside scoop behind our 2014 Word of the Year selections.

video-websters-video-of-1864

Webster's Dictionary of 1864

The landmark edition that transformed the way dictionaries are made.

video-old-school-grammar-humorsome

Old-School Grammar

Many of today's grammar rules can be traced to the opinions of one 18th century writer.

Schwa

The most common vowel sound in English causes many spelling problems.

Cynic

How an ancient philosophical movement devoted to the pursuit of virtue came to describe eye-rolling criticism.

i.e. vs. e.g.

Often used, often confused. Here's some guidance and insight.

video-our-dictionary-through-time

Our Dictionary Through Time

Webster's legendary editions - from 1828 through today.

1
2

page 1 of 2

WORD OF THE DAY

cathexis

play

investment of mental or emotional energy

Test Your Vocabulary

Odd Habits and Quirks Quiz

Which of the following best describes an easily irritated person?

Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Word Winder's CrossWinder

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Ask the Editors

2017 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes

How we chose 'feminism'

video-title-words-of-the-year-1066

Words of the Year: 1066

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

video-literally

Literally

How to use a word that (literally) drives some people nuts.

video-his-or-her

Is Singular 'They' a Better Choice?

The awkward case of 'his or her'

Word Games

Odd Habits and Quirks Quiz

Test your knowledge of strange human behaviors.

Take the quiz

cats-on-impossible-timber

More Confusing Words—Quiz

How many of these commonly confused words do you know?

Take the quiz

True or False?

Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.

Take the quiz

Word Winder's CrossWinder

Word Winder's CrossWinder

A game of winding words.

Play the game