Start each day with the Word of the Day in your inbox!

Word of the Day

Word of the day

monadnock

[ muh-nad-nok ] [ məˈnæd nɒk ] Show IPA Phonetic Respelling

noun

a residual hill or mountain standing well above the surface of a surrounding area.

learn about the english language

Why Dictionary.com chose monadnock

More about monadnock

  • Monadnock entered English around 1735–45.
  • Monadnock came from the name of Mount Monadnock in New Hampshire.
  • Mount Monadnock was first named Grand Monadnock after an Algonquian name from one of the Abenaki peoples’ languages that meant “isolated mountain.”

EXAMPLES OF MONADNOCK

  • Hikers flock to the monadnock, eager to conquer its towering peak and experience its rugged beauty.
  • As I reached the top of the monadnock, I couldn’t help but marvel at nature’s ability to shape such impressive landforms.
quiz icon
WHAT'S YOUR WORD IQ?
Think you're a word wizard? Try our word quiz, and prove it!
TAKE THE QUIZ
arrows pointing up and down
SYNONYM OF THE DAY
Double your word knowledge with the Synonym of the Day!
SEE TODAY'S SYNONYM
Word of the Day Calendar

Word of the day

dacker

[ dak-er ] [ ˈdæk ər ] Show IPA Phonetic Respelling

verb

to totter or stagger.

learn about the english language

Why Dictionary.com chose dacker

More about dacker

  • Dacker was first recorded in 1625–35.
  • Dacker is primarily used in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
  • Dacker possibly came from the early Dutch word daeckeren, which means “to flutter, vibrate.”

EXAMPLES OF DACKER

  • As the hiker reached the summit, exhaustion took over, and they began to dacker down the steep slope.
  • The toddler, still unsteady on his feet, would dacker and stumble as he tried to walk across the room.
Word of the Day Calendar

Word of the day

refulgent

[ ri-fuhl-juhnt ] [ rɪˈfʌl dʒənt ] Show IPA Phonetic Respelling

adjective

shining brightly; radiant; gleaming.

learn about the english language

Why Dictionary.com chose refulgent

More about refulgent

  • Refulgent was first recorded in 1500–10.
  • Refulgent comes from a form of the Latin word refulgēre, “to radiate light.”
  • The first part of refulgentre-, means “again and again” and intensifies the second part, fulgent.
  • Fulgent, “shining brightly; dazzling,” comes from the Latin word fulgēre with the stem fulg-, meaning “flash.”

EXAMPLES OF REFULGENT

  • The sunsets here are refulgent, painting the sky with vibrant hues of orange and pink.
  • The fireworks lit up the night sky with refulgent colors, captivating everyone’s attention.
Word of the Day Calendar
Word of the Day Calendar