Every word has a story.

What you will find

Each entry opens with a short, plain answer to “what does this word mean?”, then adds pronunciation, origin, example sentences and words that are easy to confuse with it.

How entries are written

• Definitions and examples are written in our own words rather than copied from a dictionary.
• Every entry lists the sources it was checked against and the date they were checked.
• Where the origin of a word is uncertain, the entry says so instead of picking a tidy story.
• An entry only explains why a word is in the news when a published, cited source supports it.
• The Listen button uses your browser's built-in computer voice. It is not a recording by a native speaker and may differ from the pronunciation guide.

What this site does not do

It does not publish unreleased puzzle answers, invent word histories or show made-up popularity numbers. It runs no advertising, and measures visits with Google Analytics only if you choose to allow it (see Privacy).

Corrections and contact

Spotted a mistake or want to suggest a word? Write to hi@meaning.today. Corrections are dated on the entry they change.