Can You Answer These 14 Dictionary Questions from Jeopardy!?
Updated: Jan. 18, 2023
We curated a quiz of JEOPARDY! clues for logophiles to test your knowledge of words from the dictionary.
Word on Jeopardy!
From foreign language words to new words to Pig Latin, words are always a popular topic on the hit game show. Brush up on your word power by learning about the fake words that actually ended up in the dictionary.
New to the Scrabble Player’s Dictionary for $2000: This cute canine, a cross of a toy breed & a hound dog
In May of 2019 Jeopardy! legend James Holzhauer, a professional sports gambler from Las Vegas, knew the correct question was “What is a puggle?” Holzhauer is one of the top ten Jeopardy! winners ever.
In the Spanish Dictionary for $1000: You’ll find zócalo for a main square & this masculine word for shoe
A senior from Chatham, New Jersey, Rhea Sinha, who was playing in the Teen Tournament in November of 2018 knew that the correct question was: “What is zapato?”
New Words in the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, Daily Double: The neurological condition prosopagnosia is often called this blindness, for what isn’t recognized
A strategy consultant from Washington, D.C., Jacob Farrell, asked the question in, July of 2017 “What is color blindness?” which was incorrect. The correct question was “What is face blindness?” (This is how words get added to the dictionary.)
Entomologist Dictionary for $1000: 7-letter term for the imitation by harmless insect species of poisonous ones to fool predators
Back in April of 2016, Catherine Kruchten, an informal educator from Baltimore, Maryland, knew the correct question was, “What is mimicry?” If you want to sound smarter, add these 10 words to your vocabulary.
Words of the Year for $1000 Oxford: Post-truth, edging out this 4-letter adjective meaning alert to injustice
Back in 2017, Alex noted these words were selected in 2016 for various dictionaries. Gary Tse, a freshman at the United States Naval Academy from Ellicott City, Maryland, knew the question was, “What is woke?” in this College Championship Round.
International Crime Dictionary for $800: In Britain, this 4-letter first name can mean to arrest, to steal, or prison
The correct question for the triple stumper in this game in March of 2015 was, “What is nick?” These are more of the Jeopardy! categories that stump everyone.
In the Dictionary, Daily Double: You’ll find it listed as a synonym for “enjoy” or described as a type of condiment
Over 30 years ago, back in 1988, Paul Donnelly, a nanny originally from Alexandria, Virginia, knew the correct question was, “What is relish?” Here’s another Jeopardy! quiz for those of you who relish words.
In the Dictionary for $1000: It’s a “shell” term for the part of your heart warmed by emotion or sentiment
Are you as connected to your thumper as Janine Menhennet, a homemaker from Pasadena, California who knew the correct question back in 1997 was, “What is cockles?”
Noises in the Dictionary for $1600: In “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner,” the mariner’s shipmates keel over “with heavy” this, “a lifeless lump”
None of the contestants in January 2003 knew that the correct question was, “What is thump?” If you got this question correct, want to take a crack at answering 14 Jeopardy! questions that everyone got wrong.
First Names in the Dictionary, Daily Double: First names in the dictionary that are synonyms for a Christmas song include Carol and this male name
In July of 2018 Wes Hazard, a stand-up comic and storyteller from Stoughton, Massachusetts knew the correct question was, “What is Noel?”
Dictionary Definitions for $2000: Diacritical mark used to represent vowel sounds like the A in ago
In January 2018, not one of the contestants knew that the correct question was, ” What is schwa?”
According to Black Law’s History for $1,000: The judicial procedure by which a testamentary document is established to be a valid will
In December, 2017, Travis Rojakovick, an equity analyst from Nashville, analyzed the clue correctly to ask the question, “What is probate?”
Pig Latin for $800 (Question must be in Pig Latin): The “Historical Dict. of American Slang” defines this Pig Latin word as “to clear out” & has citations back to around 1930
A math teacher, Jason Zuffranieri, from Albuquerque, New Mexico responded (in Pig Latin) with the correct question, “What is amscray?” While Pig Latin isn’t so scholarly, these real Latin words will make you sound smarter.
Say the Word for $1600: From an Old English word for “tenth,” it’s the act of giving one-tenth of your income to a church.
In October, 2018, Hannah McIntyre, an author from British Columbia, Canada responded with the correct question, “What is tithing?” Tally up your score and see if you did Noah Webster proud. Looking to improve your score?
