addition

noun

ad·​di·​tion ə-ˈdi-shən How to pronounce addition (audio)
a-
1
: a part added (as to a building or residential section)
The addition expanded the kitchen.
2
: anything or anyone added : increase
The clerk was a recent addition to the staff.
3
: the act or process of adding
a recipe enhanced by the addition of freshly ground pepper
especially : the operation of combining numbers so as to obtain an equivalent simple quantity
schoolchildren learning about addition and subtraction
4
: direct chemical combination of substances into a single product
Phrases
in addition
: besides entry 2, also
The job requires a college degree and, in addition, at least two years of experience.
in addition to
: combined or associated with : besides entry 1 sense 2
In addition to soup, several salads were served.

Examples of addition in a Sentence

The children learned addition and subtraction. The museum's collection includes several new additions.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Lulu’s Keep Things Classy Floral Button-Up Shirt In addition to Miller, Kelly Clarkson is another famous face who has reached for a blouse lately. Nicol Natale, People.com, 4 Apr. 2025 In addition to four days of screenings, the festival is also featuring an industry day on April 5 — open to any filmmakers who submitted a project to the festival. Matt Minton, Variety, 3 Apr. 2025 In addition to rising probabilities of default for both corporates and individuals, bankruptcy filings have also been rising. Mayra Rodriguez Valladares, Forbes.com, 3 Apr. 2025 In addition to directing, Blitz will executive produce the pilot only. Denise Petski, Deadline, 3 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for addition

Word History

Etymology

Middle English addicioun, borrowed from Anglo-French addicion, borrowed from Latin additiōn-, additiō, from addi-, variant stem of addere "to add" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of action nouns

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of addition was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Addition.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/addition. Accessed 7 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

addition

noun
ad·​di·​tion ə-ˈdish-ən How to pronounce addition (audio)
a-
1
: the result of adding : increase
2
: the act, process, or operation of adding
3
: a part added (as to a building)

More from Merriam-Webster on addition

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