McDonald’s Almost Sued the Dictionary—Here’s Why It Didn’t
When the dictionary dared to diss them, McDonald's took it in stride. Sort of.
25 Fancy Words That Will Make You Sound Smarter
We all want to sound smarter. With these fancy words, you can take your vocabulary to a whole new level...
The 30 Most Beautiful Words in the English Language
English is a quirky, often confusing language that's been shaped and influenced by many others. As such, it has a...
30 Slang Words We Love from 2019
This article was vetted by no less than eight Gen Zers and six Millenials.
Here’s Why We Call Them “White Lies”
People might argue about what counts as a "white lie," but where the phrase comes from is clear.
22 Slang Words from 2019 That We Can’t Stand
TBH, this Gucci list is dank AF, k? (If you can say that out loud with a straight face you...
Where Does the Term “Whistleblower” Come from, Anyway?
There's lots of noise and confusion in the world of government and politics today. Here's one less thing you need...
13 Funniest Words Added to the Dictionary in the Last Decade
From scrumdiddlyumptious to schmoozefest, these newly minted words reflect our culture and our sometimes hilarious use of language.
This Is Why Americans Say “Fall” Instead of “Autumn”
Both are interchangeable, but there's a clear preference in America.
What Does 420 Mean—How It Became Known for Marijuana
It's the time of year that has people wondering, "What does 420 mean?" Here's the answer—and it's not what you've...
The Oxford English Dictionary Forgot to Include This Word for 50 Years
Thankfully, it's not a word we still use today.
The Surprising Meaning Behind These 8 Really Weird Words
Don't you just love 'petrichor'? Especially if you're one of the 'bibliobibuli' that feels especially inspired after a good storm?...
9 Fake Words That Actually Ended Up in the Dictionary
Even dictionary editors make mistakes sometimes.
These 13 2018 Dictionary Additions Are the Hardest Words to Spell and Pronounce
Get ready, wordies! That's the new word for word-lover, but not all the new terms added to the dictionary this...
22 Words and Phrases You Had No Clue Originated in the Military
The term "feeling blue" originated in the Navy. Who knew?
10 Almost-Extinct Words You Should Start Using Right Away
Whenever the dictionary gets updated, some words face the chopping block. If you would be sad to see “skedaddle” skedaddle...
25 Homophones People Confuse All the Time
Homophones are two words that have the same pronunciation but different definitions and spellings. Read on to ensure that you...
Every Word Coined the Year You Were Born
Language is constantly evolving, and the dictionary is right on top of that. Even better, Merriam-Webster has created Time Traveler,...
11 Words That Capture Feelings You Didn’t Even Know You Had
Can't stand to watch others embarrass themselves? There's a word for that!
The Clever Way Dictionary Editors Prank Each Other
Don’t believe every definition you read.
A CIA Agent’s Humorous Secret Guide to Government Phrases
You might not believe the origins of this government lingo.
10 Surprising Words Added to the Dictionary This Year
Do you wear fast fashion and hate humblebragging? Those terms didn't exist just a year ago—until Merriam-Webster Dictionary made them...
Word Nerd Quiz: When Did These Terms First Make the OED?
These eight words first appeared in the Oxford English Dictionary in 1913, 1963 or 2013. Can you match the word...
9 Food Names Inspired by Parts of the Body
These foods were creatively named for parts of the body.
25 Italian Restaurant Words You Need to Know
You'll be an expert at ordering in no time.