Word Matters Podcast

A show for readers, writers, and anyone who ever loved their English class. Hosted by Merriam-Webster editors and lexicographers.

New Words in the Dictionary, January 2021

Word Matters, Episode 25

Episode 24: Mailbag #3

Episode 24: Questions from You

How the Ladybug Got Its Name

Episode 23: Who Put the 'Lady' in 'Ladybug'?

Words That are Their Own Opposites

Word Matters, Episode 22

A Holiday Greeting

A Holiday Greeting

Oops: Words Born Out of Mistakes

Word Matters, Episode 21

Is it a '180' or a '360'?

Word Matters, Episode 20

The Word of the Year 2020

Word Matters, Episode 19

Is 'try and' a proper use? Plus More Listener Questions

Word Matters, Episode 18

How to Read a Dictionary Entry

Word Matters, Episode 17

'Contact' and 'Impact': Acceptable verbs?

Word Matters, Episode 16

Why are American and British English different?

Word Matters, Episode 15

Everything Is 'Awesome.' Or is it?

Word Matters, Episode 14

What's up with 'biweekly'? And More Listener Questions

Word Matters, Episode 13

A Collection of Obscure Words for People Who Annoy You

Word Matters, Episode 12

Can something be 'very unique'?

Word Matters, Episode 11

How Not to Start a Sentence

Word Matters, Episode 10

In Defense of 'Like'

Word Matters, Episode 9

A Collection of Obscure Words That Are Pretty Much Useless

Word Matters, Episode 8

'Matriculate': A Word on the Move

Word Matters, Episode 7

Sorry, But Shakespeare Didn't Create That Word

Word Matters, Episode 6

'Scofflaw' and Inventing Words for Money

Word Matters, episode 5

How do you even pronounce 'antennae' anyway?

Word Matters, episode 4

A Collection of Obscure Words That You Might Find Useful

Word Matters, episode 3

Ice Tea and Semantic Drift

Word Matters, episode 2

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Word of the Day

potpourri

Listen to the pronunciation of potpourri

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Test Your Vocabulary

Face Your Fears

Arachnophobia is the fear of what multi-legged creatures?

Name That Thing

You know what it looks like… but what is it called?

TAKE THE QUIZ

Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.

Pick the best words!

PLAY