NYT Dictionary

ARGON

/ˈɑːɹɡɒn/
NounAR-gonar-gon · 2 syllablesGrade 10

Accepted in official NYT Spelling Bee puzzle years: 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023, 2025

Meaning

The chemical element (symbol Ar) with an atomic number of 18. The third most abundant gas in the Earth's atmosphere, it is a colourless, odourless, inert noble gas.

Etymology

Origin: Latin

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *né Proto-Indo-European *n̥- Proto-Hellenic *ə- Ancient Greek ᾰ̓- (ă-) Proto-Indo-European *werǵ- Proto-Indo-European *-om Proto-Indo-European *wérǵom Proto-Hellenic *wérgon Ancient Greek ἔργον (érgon) Proto-Indo-European *-os Proto-Indo-European *-ós Proto-Indo-European *-ós Proto-Hellenic *-ós ▲ Ancient Greek -ος (-os)influ. Ancient Greek -ός (-ós) Ancient Greek ᾱ̓ργός (ārgós) Proto-Indo-European *kerh₃-der.? Latin carbōnemlbor. French carbonebor. English carbonbf. English -on English argon From Ancient Greek ἀργός (argós, “idle, lazy”), because of its inertness, + -on, used for all noble gases.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

E938 when used as a packaging gasarammoniagasnitrogenoxygensilver

NYT Puzzle Appearances

Accepted in 5 recorded puzzles:

Join the Spelling Bee Community

Get solving strategies, rare word lists, and puzzle tips in your inbox every week.