circumflex

1 of 2

adjective

cir·​cum·​flex ˈsər-kəm-ˌfleks How to pronounce circumflex (audio)
1
: characterized by the pitch, quantity, or quality indicated by a circumflex
2
: marked with a circumflex

circumflex

2 of 2

noun

: a mark ˆ, ⌢, or ˜ originally used in Greek over long vowels to indicate a rising-falling tone and in other languages to mark length, contraction, or a particular vowel quality

Examples of circumflex in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Noun
My eyes were crowned by brows like circumflex accents—^^—and my ears were off-kilter, one more exorbitant than the other, and as far as defects went we were just getting started. Luigi Pirandello, Literary Hub, 29 Oct. 2025 The entrance forms a big O in homage to the brand, with the two buildings positioned in a way that forms the circumflex over it. Jenny B. Fine, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019 There’s something about the circumflex over the a, the accent over the e, that adds a sense of mystique. Talia Lavin, Bon Appetit, 15 May 2017

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Latin circumflexus, past participle of circumflectere to bend around, mark with a circumflex, from circum- + flectere to bend

First Known Use

Adjective

circa 1577, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Noun

1570, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of circumflex was in 1570

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Circumflex.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/circumflex. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.

Kids Definition

circumflex

noun
cir·​cum·​flex
ˈsər-kəm-ˌfleks
: a mark ˆ over a vowel

Medical Definition

circumflex

adjective
cir·​cum·​flex ˈsər-kəm-ˌfleks How to pronounce circumflex (audio)
of nerves and blood vessels
: bending around

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