Word List

The word list totals more than 1,000 words. It includes a 25-item multiple choice test for a portion of the preliminaries. The list concludes with a 25-word championship section.

The only complete source for all words given in competition is Webster’s Third New International Dictionary and its addenda section, copyright 2002, Merriam-Webster (Webster’s Third), which contains over 470,000 word entries.

Words are chosen primarily by a three-person word panel. Other Bee officials contribute to the process.