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Merriam-Webster @merriam-webster.com · 23h

These are your words of the week nor’easter protein magnetic field coffee ghost www.merriam-webster.com/wordplay/the...

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The Words of the Week - Oct. 2

Dictionary lookups from space, storms, and store shelves

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Merriam-Webster @merriam-webster.com · 01/10/2026

October is the 10th month. ‘October’ means “8th month.” In the first calendar used in ancient Rome, the year had only ten months, starting in March and ending in December. The extra period between December and March was not considered part of the series of months.

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Merriam-Webster @merriam-webster.com · 01/10/2026

'Autumn' entered English in the 1300s. "The fall of the leaves" was shortened to 'fall' in the 1600s.

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Merriam-Webster @merriam-webster.com · 30/09/2026

A more accepted theory is that 'bucket' referred to a wooden beam/yoke. In animal slaughter, they would hang animals from this 'bucket.' When they thrashed around while hanging, they would "kick the bucket." This theory is also disputed, and we really don't know the true origin of the phrase.

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Merriam-Webster @merriam-webster.com · 30/09/2026

He’s a tin, but he can’t spell.

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Merriam-Webster @merriam-webster.com · 29/09/2026

Yes. This looks like the computing term that we addressed in the video.

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Merriam-Webster @merriam-webster.com · 29/09/2026

Unfortunately, that is not the origin of 'kick the bucket.'

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Merriam-Webster @merriam-webster.com · 29/09/2026

Yes. That is what we're saying. The earliest known evidence is from 2006. It totally might've existed prior, but so far there is no evidence.

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Merriam-Webster @merriam-webster.com · 29/09/2026

It looks like this is from the 11th printing, 2013. Great find, though!

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Merriam-Webster @merriam-webster.com · 29/09/2026

There is no evidence so far that indicates this. But you might be right!

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Merriam-Webster @merriam-webster.com · 29/09/2026

Until there is any evidence of the term being used without connection to the movie, we can say it 'came from.' 'BFF' used to be credited to the show "Friends"- then they found prior evidence from 1978- so now we say "Friends" popularized the word.

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Merriam-Webster @merriam-webster.com · 29/09/2026

Unabridged: The etymology of 'bucket list'

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Merriam-Webster @merriam-webster.com · 25/09/2026

These are your words of the week pool equinox rotund El Niño annihilate meretricious leather lake www.merriam-webster.com/wordplay/the...

merriam-webster.com

The Words of the Week - Sept. 25

Dictionary lookups from weather, colors, and Fat Bear Week

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Merriam-Webster @merriam-webster.com · 24/09/2026

Stannis of the House Baratheon, King of the Andals and the First Men, and Lord of the Seven Kingdoms, and Protector of the Realm.

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Merriam-Webster @merriam-webster.com · 24/09/2026

Remember, ‘fewer’ is generally used when you’re talking about a smaller number of things that can be counted. Use ‘more’ when you want to indicate a larger number.

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Merriam-Webster @merriam-webster.com · 22/09/2026

IMPORTANT: You can use the word 'autumnal' today.

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Merriam-Webster @merriam-webster.com · 21/09/2026

‘Doll’ probably comes from a nickname for ‘Dorothy.’ For those asking, our American Girl Doll is Molly.

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Merriam-Webster @merriam-webster.com · 21/09/2026

Ok, who has the most mortifying typo in an email/text? Please show your work. Top 3 get an M-W Sweatshirt.

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Merriam-Webster @merriam-webster.com · 18/09/2026

These are your words of the week parallax saccharide anthropic oligarch mastodon fanfaron www.merriam-webster.com/wordplay/the...

merriam-webster.com

The Words of the Week - Sept. 18

Dictionary lookups from optical illusions, AI, and the Pleistocene

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Merriam-Webster @merriam-webster.com · 17/09/2026

She's a 10, but she corrects people's grammar.

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Merriam-Webster @merriam-webster.com · 15/09/2026

Thanks for letting us know! Our free website definition is more up-to-date and reflects this.

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Merriam-Webster @merriam-webster.com · 15/09/2026

The link we provided has a good amount!

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Merriam-Webster @merriam-webster.com · 14/09/2026

We're a family-friendly dictionary.

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Merriam-Webster @merriam-webster.com · 14/09/2026

TW: POTTY WORDS ‘Pee’ meaning “urinate" was originally just the letter P. The P was short for ‘p*ss.’ Also, 'p*ss' originated in Latin, and is thought to be an onomatopoeia for the sound it makes.

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Merriam-Webster @merriam-webster.com · 14/09/2026

We decided long ago, never to walk in anyone's shadows.

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Merriam-Webster @merriam-webster.com · 11/09/2026

These are your words of the week mistrial brain rot small potatoes brazen tantivy www.merriam-webster.com/wordplay/the...

merriam-webster.com

The Words of the Week - Sept. 11

Dictionary lookups from court, the internet, and an art heist

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Merriam-Webster @merriam-webster.com · 11/09/2026

Why is 'lb' the abbreviation for 'pound'?

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Merriam-Webster @merriam-webster.com · 10/09/2026

euphemism = polite term for an impolite thing dysphemism = impolite term for a polite thing

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Merriam-Webster @merriam-webster.com · 09/09/2026

Not to brag, but our product has been foldable since 1828.

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Merriam-Webster @merriam-webster.com · 09/09/2026

Look at this post, isn’t it neat?

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Merriam-Webster @merriam-webster.com · 09/09/2026

Arial = ⌨️ aerial = 🦜 Ariel = 🧜‍♀️

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Merriam-Webster @merriam-webster.com · 08/09/2026

Here is our draft definition of 'artificial intelligence' from 1981. It was written by a lovely human.

Index card with Merriam-Webster's draft definition of 'artificial intelligence' from 1981

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Merriam-Webster @merriam-webster.com · 08/09/2026

Silent movies often featured chase scenes, which were often the most exciting/interesting scenes. So, ‘cut to the chase’ came to mean “get to the important part.”

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Merriam-Webster @merriam-webster.com · 04/09/2026

These are your words of the week hydronym ferret pulque Afrofuturism finify www.merriam-webster.com/wordplay/the...

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The Words of the Week - Sept. 4

Dictionary lookups from literature, hydrology, and potent potables

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Merriam-Webster @merriam-webster.com · 01/09/2026

‘Pundit’ comes from the Hindi word ‘paṇḍit,’ a term of respect for a wise person. Its ultimate source is the Sanskrit word ‘paṇḍita,’ meaning “learned.” It now usually means…something different.

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Merriam-Webster @merriam-webster.com · 31/08/2026

macabre = “muh-KAHB” Worcestershire = “WOOSS-ter-sheer” omnipotent = “ahm-NI-puh-tunt” reticent = “RET-uh-sunt” epitome = “ih-PIT-uh-mee” myriad = "MEER-ee-ud" Never make fun of someone if they mispronounce a word. It means they learned it by reading.

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Merriam-Webster @merriam-webster.com · 28/08/2026

These are your words of the week dolly noblesse oblige Kafkaesque minstrel digress ubiety www.merriam-webster.com/wordplay/the...

merriam-webster.com

The Words of the Week - Aug. 28

Dictionary lookups from music, social media, and the Supreme Court

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Merriam-Webster @merriam-webster.com · 28/08/2026

The Greek ‘xylo-’ means “wood.” The Greek ‘-phone’ means “voice.” Xylophones were originally made of wood and created sounds. So there you go.

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