Merriam-Webster trivia
Merriam-Webster Mini Quiz
Test your knowledge with these top questions!
Question 1
The 1934 Merriam-Webster dictionary accidentally included the fake word "dord" due to what error?
A chemistry editor submitted a slip reading "D or d" for the abbreviation of density, which a typesetter misinterpreted as a single, brand-new noun.
Question 2
Lexicographer Noah Webster removed the "u" from British spellings like "colour" to achieve what goal?
Webster believed an independent nation needed a distinct language, deliberately changing spellings to sever cultural ties with British English.
Question 3
Merriam-Webster editors select their annual "Word of the Year" primarily by tracking what metric?
Rather than choosing words based on editorial opinion, the team analyzes statistical spikes in website search volume compared to previous years.
Question 4
The official Merriam-Webster social media accounts gained viral popularity by adopting what modern tone?
The dictionary's Twitter account went viral around 2016 for using dry humor and precise definitions to cleverly troll politicians and pop culture.