NYT Dictionary

BUNION

/ˈbʌnjən/
NounBUN-ionbun-ion · 2 syllablesGrade 5

Accepted in official NYT Spelling Bee puzzle years: 2020, 2021, 2022, 2025, 2026

Meaning

A bump or bulge on the first joint of the big toe caused by the swelling of a sac of fluid under the skin.

Etymology

Origin: Middle English

From alteration of earlier bunny (“lump, swelling”), from Middle English bony, boni (“bunion, swelling”), perhaps Italian bubbone (augmented form of bugno (“beehive”)), or more likely from Lombard bugnon (“bunyon”), all three from Old French bugne, buigne, bune (“bump, knob, swelling”), from Old Norse bunga (“an elevation, bulge”) or Frankish *bungjō (“a swelling, lump, bump”), both from Proto-Germanic *bungô, *bunkô (“lump, clump, heap, crowd”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰenǵʰ- (“thick, dense, fat”). Cognate with Dutch bonk (“lump, clump”), German Bunge (“swelling, tuber”).

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

abscessappendicitisarthritisblebblisterboilbronchitisbumpadenoiditisadrenitis

NYT Puzzle Appearances

Accepted in 2 recorded puzzles:

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