interjection

American  

[in-ter-jek-shuhn] / ˌɪn tərˈdʒɛk ʃən /

noun

1. the act of interjecting.

2. something interjected, as a remark.

3. the utterance of a word or phrase expressive of emotion; the uttering of an exclamation.

4. Grammar.

   1. any member of a class of words expressing emotion, distinguished in most languages by their use in grammatical isolation, as Hey! Oh! Ouch! Ugh!

   2. any other word or expression so used, as Good grief! Indeed!

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interjection British  

/ ˌɪntəˈdʒɛkʃən /

noun

1. a word or remark expressing emotion; exclamation

2. the act of interjecting

3.  interj..  a word or phrase that is characteristically used in syntactic isolation and that usually expresses sudden emotion; expletive

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interjection Cultural  

1. A brief exclamation, often containing only one word: “Oh!” “Gee!” “Good grief!” “Ouch!”

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Usage

What does interjection mean? An interjection is a word or phrase that expresses something in a sudden or exclamatory way, especially an emotion. Yikes, uh-oh, ugh, oh boy, and ouch are common examples of interjections. In grammar, interjections are considered one of the parts of speech (types of words categorized by function, like nouns and verbs and adjectives). Interjection is the noun form of the verb interject, which most commonly means to interrupt or insert a comment. Interjection can also be used to mean the act or instance of doing so, as in Can I make an interjection?Example: There was a chorus of angry interjections when the people in the audience heard that their taxes would be going up.

Other Word Forms

• interjectional
  adjective
• interjectionally
  adverb
• interjectural
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of interjection

1400–50; late Middle English interjeccio ( u ) n < Latin interjectiōn- (stem of interjectiō ). See interject, -ion

Explanation

An interjection is a word like "Hey!" or "Mmm!" or "Ugh!" Interjections can also be longer interruptions of a conversation or something happening. The inter part of interjection, which means "between," is a good clue that this is a term for words that bust in on other strings of words. If you've ever said "Whoa!", you've used an interjection. Interjections interject or interrupt — they break into the conversation. People often use interjections when excited, such as "Yes!" or "Wow!" You could also say, "May I make an interjection?" That would be a polite way of saying you'd like to add something.

Example Sentences

The Interjection shows surprise, As Oh, how pretty!

From Cole's Funny Picture Book No. 1 by Cole, E. W. (Edward William)

By the time he got back the mail might have come—and he might have made up his mind whether or not to cable "Interjection."

From Second String by Hope, Anthony

He had the reputation of a worthy good Man, and was commonly taken notice of for an habitual Saying, by way of Interjection almost to anything, viz.

From The Haunters & The Haunted Ghost Stories And Tales Of The Supernatural by Rhys, Ernest

Interjection; a word used to express surprise or emotion; as, Oh!

From Practical Grammar and Composition by Wood, Thomas

Help! friends! to the rescue! on you For aid Verb and Article call;   Oh! give your protection   To poor Interjection, Noun, Pronoun, Conjunction, and all!

From Cole's Funny Picture Book No. 1 by Cole, E. W. (Edward William)

Related Words

• cry
• exclamation
• expletive
• insertion
• interpolation
• interposition
• shout