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

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

The comma in the title of Bon Iver‘s three-track October EP Sable, was always there for a reason. —Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 11 Feb. 2025

Now, my prayer is that this news will be but a comma in the HTDA story, not a period. —Rick Porter, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 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