Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day

00:02:31

nexus

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2026/10/12

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for October 12, 2026 is:nexus • \NEK-sus\ • noun A nexus is a relationship or connection between people or things. Nexus can also refer to a connected group or series or to the center or focus of something. // The cultural district serves as a nexus for art and cuisine. See the entry > Examples: “The eclectic costume design by Ryan Matthieu Smith suggests Eastern Europe at the nexus of the Middle

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00:02:36

galore

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2026/10/11

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for October 11, 2026 is:galore • \guh-LOR\ • adjective Galore is an informal adjective that describes something as being in large numbers or amounts. It is always used postpositively, that is, after a noun. // The store promises bargains galore on Black Friday. See the entry > Examples: “The rest of the home is filled with what Josh calls ‘love stuff,’ like an entire wall of family pictures, his

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00:02:30

Luddite

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2026/10/10

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for October 10, 2026 is: Luddite • \LUH-dyte\ • noun Luddite refers to someone who is opposed to change, and especially to technological change. // My friends call me a Luddite for refusing to use chat bots. See the entry > Examples: “Today, a Luddite is your grandparent who keeps looking at the screen rather than the camera when on Zoom, the Boomer who types in all-capital letters, the grouchy man

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00:01:35

inscrutable

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2026/10/09

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for October 9, 2026 is:inscrutable • \in-SKROO-tuh-bul\ • adjective Inscrutable means "not readily investigated, interpreted, or understood." It often describes things that are mysterious or difficult to comprehend. // His professor wore an inscrutable expression throughout the oral exam. See the entry > Examples: "The paper makes significant progress on an unresolved aspect of the inscrutable math

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00:02:17

etiquette

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2026/10/08

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for October 8, 2026 is:etiquette • \ET-ih-kut\ • noun Etiquette refers to rules or customs that dictate what behavior is considered appropriate and expected in a particular setting. // Her failure to respond to the invitation was a serious breach of etiquette. See the entry > Examples: “My first interaction with The Real Housewives franchise happened sometime in 2015, when my partner became hooked

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00:02:09

discreet

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2026/10/07

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for October 7, 2026 is:discreet • \dih-SKREET\ • adjective Discreet describes someone who is careful about not allowing something to be known or noticed by many people. It can also describe something that is not likely to be seen or noticed by many people. // She was always very discreet about her personal life. // A photographer followed the singer at a discreet distance. See the entry > Examples:

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00:01:48

regimen

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2026/10/06

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for October 6, 2026 is:regimen • \REJ-uh-mun\ • noun Regimen refers to a plan or set of rules about food, exercise, etc., designed to make someone become or stay healthy. // Sherry’s personal trainer started her on a workout regimen of 30 minutes on the treadmill followed by 30 minutes of weight training. See the entry > Examples: "The last step in a great antiaging skin care regimen is, of course,

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00:02:01

perseverate

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2026/10/05

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for October 5, 2026 is:perseverate • \per-SEV-uh-rayt\ • verb To perseverate is to intently focus one's attention on a thought or thoughts. Perseverate can also mean "to recur or repeat continually." // They teach that there is no use in perseverating about past regrets. // Nervous thoughts perseverated in the back of her mind for weeks leading up to the event, but it was a complete success. See the entry >

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00:02:20

adventitious

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2026/10/04

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for October 4, 2026 is: adventitious • \ad-ven-TISH-us\ • adjective Adventitious is a formal word that most often describes something that comes from an outside source, and is neither inherent nor innate. In botanical contexts especially, the word also describes something that arises or occurs sporadically, or not in the usual or expected location. // The house is like a museum—beautifully restored, full of period

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00:02:20

adventitious

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2026/10/04

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for October 4, 2026 is:adventitious • \ad-ven-TISH-us\ • adjective Adventitious is a formal word that most often describes something that comes from an outside source, and is neither inherent or innate. In botanical contexts especially, the word also describes something that arises or occurs sporadically, or not in the usual or expected location. // The house is like a museum—beautifully restored, full of period

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00:02:07

tittle

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2026/10/03

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for October 3, 2026 is: tittle • \TITT-ul\ • noun Used chiefly in British English, tittle refers to a very small part or amount; it is often paired with the word jot. In writing and printing on both sides of the pond, tittle also refers to a point or small sign used as a diacritical mark. // There is not a jot or tittle of evidence to support their claims. See the entry > Examples: "First-class

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00:02:08

heterodox

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2026/10/02

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for October 2, 2026 is:heterodox • \HET-uh-ruh-dahks\ • adjective Like both unorthodox and unconventional, heterodox describes something, such an idea or belief, that is contrary to or different from an acknowledged standard, a traditional form, or an established religion. Heterodox can also describe a person or group that holds unorthodox opinions or doctrines. // The two new faculty members' heterodox approach to

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00:02:09

slew

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2026/10/01

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for October 1, 2026 is:slew • \SLOO\ • noun Slew is an informal word for a large number of people or things. // The pile of junk mail included a slew of catalogs. See the entry > Examples: “The nonalcoholic drinks category has expanded so much in recent years that it’s not uncommon to find a list of thoughtful, complex nonalcoholic beverages on a bar or restaurant’s cocktail menu—yes, even outside

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00:01:52

epistemic

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2026/09/30

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 30, 2026 is:epistemic • \ep-uh-STEE-mik\ • adjective Epistemic means "of or relating to knowledge or knowing." // He's a brilliant teacher who has the epistemic humility to know that there is always more to learn. See the entry > Examples: "Is a novel's primary purpose to entertain or to deepen our experience of being alive—to offer escape or epistemic enrichment?" — Brady

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00:01:04

argot

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2026/09/29

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 29, 2026 is:argot • \AHR-goh\ • noun Argot refers to the language or set of words used by a particular group of people. // The novels were such a success that fans began communicating in the secret argot spoken by the series’ characters. See the entry > Examples: “[Lenny] Bruce, born Leonard Alfred Schneider on Long Island, quit school at 16 and got his start telling jokes at a

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00:02:14

fungible

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2026/09/28

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 28, 2026 is:fungible • \FUN-juh-bul\ • adjective Fungible describes things, such as currency, goods, and commodities, that can be exchanged for something else of the same kind or value. In broader usage, fungible can also mean “interchangeable,” as well as “readily changeable to adapt to new situations.” // A dollar bill is considered fungible because it can easily and acceptably be traded for ten

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00:02:14

bellwether

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2026/09/27

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 27, 2026 is:bellwether • \BEL-WEH-ther\ • noun Bellwether usually refers to something that serves as an indicator of trends. It can also refer to someone or something that leads others. // Event organizers say the concert series is a bellwether, demonstrating that good shows can bring visitors to the town. See the entry > Examples: “Disney, with its long and illustrious history and

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00:02:18

confabulate

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2026/09/26

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 26, 2026 is: confabulate • \kun-FAB-yuh-layt\ • verb Confabulate has two very different meanings. Most of the time, to confabulate is to generate a false memory by filling in memory gaps with fabrications. An older meaning, still in use, is "to talk informally; to chat." // Patients who have this type of memory disorder are known to confabulate. See the entry > Examples: "My

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00:02:01

tactile

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2026/09/25

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 25, 2026 is:tactile • \TAK-tul\ • adjective Tactile typically describes something, such as a sensation or experience, relating to the sense of touch. It can also be used specifically to describe something that is perceptible by touch. // With the introduction of haptics to smartphones, receiving a call from a friend became a much more tactile experience. See the entry > Examples:

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00:02:02

pundit

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2026/09/24

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 24, 2026 is:pundit • \PUN-dit\ • noun A pundit is someone, especially an expert, who presents their opinions and ideas on a particular subject via the media. // Grandpa likes watching political pundits spar about the issues of the day on the Sunday morning talk shows. See the entry > Examples: “… fashion pundits slammed the costumes, with some likening them to fast-fashion copies of

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