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.
a person who insists on doing things in an incorrect way
A mumpsimus is someone who clings to a mistaken way of doing things, even after the error has been pointed out. This silly-sounding word comes from a story about a priest who kept saying the wrong word during Mass. When stubbornness stands in the way of change, you may be dealing with a true mumpsimus.
Even after being corrected, the mumpsimus continued to write "for all intensive purposes" instead of "for all intents and purposes."
of or resembling a tooth
Odontoid describes something that resembles a tooth in shape or function. The word is most often used in anatomy and science, where form is carefully observed and named. When a structure narrows to a pointed, toothlike profile, odontoid fits cleanly.
The unusual bony structure had an odontoid appearance that puzzled the biologists.
a dull or trite remark
A platitude is the kind of remark that sounds comforting but lands flat. These familiar phrases often aim for wisdom, yet repetition drains them of force or insight. When words feel recycled instead of revealing, a platitude is usually to blame.
His campaign speech was full of meaningless platitudes, boring nearly the entire audience.
to deviate from a straight course, as a ship
To yaw is to drift off course, especially when forward motion stays steady but direction does not. The word is most at home in nautical and aviation contexts, where even small deviations matter. When progress continues but alignment slips, yaw captures that sideways pull.
A sudden crosswind caused the small sailboat to yaw significantly off its intended path.
speaking or expressed in a concise or terse style
Breviloquent describes using as few words as possible to get a message across. It applies to punchy speeches, crisp writing, and any moment where less is more. When restraint makes the message sharper, breviloquent is the word.
The breviloquent presentation, deliberately short and to the point, impressed the entire committee of executives.
