éclaircissement

noun

éclair·​cis·​se·​ment ā-kler-sēs-(ə-)ˈmäⁿ How to pronounce éclaircissement (audio)
plural éclaircissements ā-kler-sēs-(ə-)ˈmäⁿ(z) How to pronounce éclaircissement (audio)
: a clearing up of something obscure : enlightenment

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Spelled by a Champion

Congrats to Faizan Zaki for spelling this word to win the 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee! In previous rounds, he aced the spelling of Chaldee, Symlin, olona, and adytum, among others.

Word History

Etymology

French

First Known Use

1667, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of éclaircissement was in 1667

Browse Nearby Words

éclair
éclaircissement
eclampsia
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Cite this Entry

“éclaircissement.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/%C3%A9claircissement. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.

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