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
The story has been updated to correct the spelling of Sui Chung's last name, from Cheng.
—
CBS News, 10 Feb. 2026
The story has been updated to correct the spelling of Sui Chung’s last name, from Cheng.
—Gisela Salomon, Sun Sentinel, 9 Feb. 2026
This Scottish name means speckled or freckled and has become way more commonly used than its original spelling—Brice—over the decades.
—Anna Earl, Parents, 8 Feb. 2026
This story has been updated with new information, to reframe parts of the story and to correct spelling errors.
—Steve Patterson, Florida Times-Union, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for spelling
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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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CBS News, 10 Feb. 2026
The story has been updated to correct the spelling of Sui Chung’s last name, from Cheng.
—Gisela Salomon, Sun Sentinel, 9 Feb. 2026
This Scottish name means speckled or freckled and has become way more commonly used than its original spelling—Brice—over the decades.
—Anna Earl, Parents, 8 Feb. 2026
This story has been updated with new information, to reframe parts of the story and to correct spelling errors.
—Steve Patterson, Florida Times-Union, 5 Feb. 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 15 Feb. 2026.
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