Wordle

American

[wurd-l] / ˈwɜrd l /

Trademark.

the brand name for an online word game giving players six attempts to identify a five-letter word.

Etymology

Origin of Wordle

Pun on the family name of Brooklyn-based software engineer Josh Wardle, who developed the game (2021)

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.

Josh Wardle from Monmouthshire created Wordle for his girlfriend to play during the Covid-19 lockdowns.

From BBC • Mar. 30, 2026

Wordle even helped to end a 17-hour hostage ordeal and became the most Googled word of 2022.

From BBC • Mar. 30, 2026

I do Wordle and Spelling Bee, usually just those two.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 19, 2026

Wordle addicts panicked that their long-running streaks would be reset to zero, students fretted over blown deadlines as their Canvas learning portals stopped working.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 26, 2025

Offered as part of a subscription to a bundle of puzzles on the New York Times web site and app, Wordle has been a major driver of digital revenue for the company.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 7, 2025

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023