NYT Dictionary

CONNECTION

/kəˈnɛkʃ(ə)n/
Nouncon-NEC-tioncon-nec-tion · 3 syllablesGrade 6

Accepted in official NYT Spelling Bee puzzle years: 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025

Meaning

The act of connecting.

Etymology

Origin: Middle English

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *ḱe? Proto-Indo-European *ḱóm Proto-Italic *kom Proto-Italic *kom- Latin con- Latin nectō Latin cōnectō Proto-Indo-European *-tis Proto-Indo-European *-Hō Proto-Indo-European *-tiHō Proto-Italic *-tiō Latin -tiō Latin cōnexiōder. Latin connexionemder. Middle English connexiounder. English connection From Middle English conneccioun, connexioun, conneccyon, conneccion, from Latin connexionem (nominative connexio (“a conclusion, binding together”)), from connectō, an alternative spelling of cōnectō (“to bind together”), from compound of co- (“together”) and nectō (“to bind”). In American English mid-18c., spelling shifted from connexion to connection (equivalent to connect + -ion), thus making connexion British dated and connection in international use.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

communionbondconnectionconnectiveconnexivelinkvinculumconnectednessconnexionconnector

Antonyms

unconnectednessdisconnectedness

NYT Puzzle Appearances

Accepted in 5 recorded puzzles:

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