1
: the forming of words from letters according to accepted usage : orthography
2
a
: a sequence of letters composing a word
b
: the way in which a word is spelled
Examples of spelling in a Sentence
The American spelling is “color” while the British spelling is “colour.”
The words “made” and “maid” sound alike but have different spellings.
Recent Examples on the Web
They will be edited for spelling, grammar and clarity.
—
Naperville Sun, Chicago Tribune, 12 Mar. 2026
The state spelling bee was a solid training ground for Nikhil’s first time heading to the nationals.
—Elizabeth Hernandez, Denver Post, 10 Mar. 2026
And, just maybe, that can go at least a few inches toward explaining the enduring popularity of mah-jongg—also variably spelled mah jong, mahjong, mah jongg, and more, with our spelling taken from Merriam-Webster—one that spans continents and centuries.
—Kase Wickman, Vanity Fair, 10 Mar. 2026
But somewhere along the way, the spelling changed.
—Lia Assimakopoulos, Dallas Morning News, 9 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for spelling
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show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Naperville Sun, Chicago Tribune, 12 Mar. 2026
The state spelling bee was a solid training ground for Nikhil’s first time heading to the nationals.
—Elizabeth Hernandez, Denver Post, 10 Mar. 2026
And, just maybe, that can go at least a few inches toward explaining the enduring popularity of mah-jongg—also variably spelled mah jong, mahjong, mah jongg, and more, with our spelling taken from Merriam-Webster—one that spans continents and centuries.
—Kase Wickman, Vanity Fair, 10 Mar. 2026
But somewhere along the way, the spelling changed.
—Lia Assimakopoulos, Dallas Morning News, 9 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for spelling
Cite this Entry
“Spelling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spelling. Accessed 19 Mar. 2026.
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