Word of the Day
Learn a new word every day! The Dictionary.com team of language experts carefully selects each Word of the Day to add some panache to your vocabulary.
fashionable society
From glittering parties to stylish wardrobes, the bon ton is a world of high style where elegance and social grace come naturally. The term comes from French and has long been associated with good taste and polished manners. How chic!
Only the bon ton received invitations to the exclusive, highly anticipated summer ball.
from accidental causes or chance
Something aleatory depends on chance or randomness rather than design. The word comes from a Latin term meaning "gambler," evoking the uncertainty of a roll of the dice. Bingo players, gamers, and speed daters all have aleatory moments where unpredictability is part of the fun.
The financial markets are often aleatory, their outcome dependent upon unpredictable global events.
talk or writing that is meaningless or insincere
Hogwash is talk or writing that's empty, insincere, or just plain nonsense. The word comes from farm life, originally referring to the watery slop fed to pigs. Next time someone spins a story that doesn't hold water, you can call it what it is: hogwash.
He claimed he could finish the marathon without training, but that's pure hogwash.
something a person carries around for frequent or regular use
A vade mecum is something you keep close because you rely on it. This Latinate phrase suggests usefulness earned through reliability rather than novelty. Whether it's a notebook, tool, or lucky charm, a vade mecum is defined by how faithfully it stays at your side.
The field guide was her trusted vade mecum on every hiking trip.
to attribute
To ascribe is to assign a cause, quality, or origin to something. The word tends to show up when we're discussing why things happen or where ideas come from, especially when the connection isn't obvious. Keep ascribe handy for nuanced explanations.
We must not ascribe every success solely to luck, but acknowledge hard work.
