comma

noun

com·​ma ˈkä-mə 

1

: a punctuation mark, used especially as a mark of separation within the sentence

2

: pause, interval

3

: any of several nymphalid butterflies (genus Polygonia) with a silvery comma-shaped mark on the underside of the hind wings

Examples of comma in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

To read more about the world’s richest individuals, check out a roundup of newbies to the three comma club here, an accounting of the world’s richest celebrities here, the full package here. —Maggie McGrath, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025

In a series of three or more terms, add a comma after each term except the last. —Eli Grober, The New Yorker, 24 Mar. 2025

Dover Street Market, which sits on the border of the NoMad and Murray Hill neighborhoods, is a seven-floor retail oasis of hypebeast brands, exclusive collaborations and runway-level looks with prices that have commas. —Gerald Narciso, New York Times, 6 Jan. 2025

The latter outlines their technology stack and even affirms a corporate commitment to the Oxford comma. —Phil Kirschner, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin, from Latin, part of a sentence, from Greek komma segment, clause, from koptein to cut — more at capon

First Known Use

1554, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing comma

• comma fault
• comma splice
• inverted comma

Rhymes for comma

• brahma
• chama
• dama
• drama
• gama
• lama
• llama
• mama
• mamma
• momma
• rama
• sama

Video

The Serial Comma Explained

Why don't they call it the Merriam-Webster comma?

Kids Definition

comma

noun

com·​ma ˈkäm-ə 

: a punctuation mark , used chiefly to show separation of words or word groups within a sentence