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Synonyms

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!

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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
interjection Cultural  

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

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

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.

After the 11-term Democrat's third interjection and prior warnings to maintain decorum, House Speaker Mike Johnson ordered the sergeant-at-arms to remove Green from the chamber.

From Salon • Mar. 6, 2025

But some prospective jurors revealed sensitive information on their own, without any interjection from the judge.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 16, 2024

“You’re abusing my time,” he responded after one interjection from Board Chair Janice Hahn.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 20, 2023

After the interjection, the silence continued after a short delay.

From BBC • Feb. 24, 2023

Not that she wasn’t thankful for the help, but she had to wonder at this sudden interjection.

From "When Dimple Met Rishi" by Sandhya Menon

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.