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

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

The disagreement between the two men is halted with an interjection from an elderly woman - perhaps the grandmother - who has her own reason to thank Gorbachev.

From BBC • Aug. 31, 2022

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

Emily gave Jose a small smile of gratitude, but his interjection didn’t deter Mr. Quisling.

From "Book Scavenger" by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman

Related Words

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