spelling bee

noun

1. a spelling competition won by the individual or team spelling the greatest number of words correctly; spelldown.

spelling bee

noun

1. a contest in which players are required to spell words according to orthographic conventions

Word History and Origins

Origin of spelling bee¹

First recorded in 1870–75

Word History and Origins

Origin of spelling bee¹

C19: from bee ²

Example Sentences

Cashore credits his parents for helping him prepare for his trip to Washington, D.C., for the spelling bee.

From Seattle Times

Aliyah Alpert, who finished ninth in 2022, missed the bee entirely last year because she flubbed the word “recoup” in the Yavapai County spelling bee in her home state of Arizona.

From Seattle Times

“That’s what the spelling bee is about. It’s not about knowing as many words as you can.”

From Seattle Times

The experiences of first-generation Indian Americans and their spelling bee champion children illustrate the economic success and cultural impact of the nation’s second-largest immigrant group.

From Seattle Times

A spelling bee is a spelling contest where players take turns spelling words.

From NewsForKids.net