interjection
Americannoun
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interjections
plural
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the act of interjecting.
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something interjected, as a remark.
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the utterance of a word or phrase expressive of emotion; the uttering of an exclamation.
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Grammar.
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any member of a class of words expressing emotion, distinguished in most languages by their use in grammatical isolation, as Hey! Oh! Ouch! Ugh!
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any other word or expression so used, as Good grief! Indeed!
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noun
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a word or remark expressing emotion; exclamation
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the act of interjecting
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interj.. a word or phrase that is characteristically used in syntactic isolation and that usually expresses sudden emotion; expletive
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
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
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.
Vocabulary lists containing interjection
Language and Grammar - Introductory
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That’s So Meta: Words About Words
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Much Ado About Nothing
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
“We both have good jobs—and no kids—so we’re able to travel,” said Oester, with an interjection from Li.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 10, 2026
But some prospective jurors revealed sensitive information on their own, without any interjection from the judge.
From Seattle Times ● Apr. 16, 2024
The “re, mi, do” feels musically resolved, he explained, after which “do, so” — the alien response — feels like an appropriately startling interjection.
From New York Times ● Jun. 24, 2023
However, the brief yet random interjection raised eyebrows and concerns about security at CinemaCon and also, the legal integrity of the proceedings.
From Salon ● Apr. 29, 2022
Every now and then a staccato interjection from my grandmother.
From "Jacob Have I Loved" by Katherine Paterson
That elicited plenty of interjections from the degree-holders below his lectern, to whom Borchetta responded, “Deal with it.”
From Slate ● May 20, 2026
The libretto is mostly in vernacular English, except for choral interjections of the Buddhist “Diamond Sutra,” sung in Chinese.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 1, 2025
He says it's difficult for comedians in Kay's situation to hear what audience members are actually saying, and that their interjections are also distracting for others watching in different parts of the arena.
From BBC ● Feb. 14, 2025
Shortly after Mr. Halloran finished reading the passage with his interjections, Ms. Cavanaugh responded, tearfully calling his altering of the passage unnecessary harassment that diminished the integrity of the legislation they were debating.
From New York Times ● Mar. 19, 2024
He could hear the "Oh, cusses!" muttered under her breath, which were only interjections in the course of series of questions and comments, jumping from Longfield and back again.
From The Old Blood by Frederick Palmer
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
