NYT Dictionary

GROIN

/ˈɡɹoɪ̯n/ ~ /ˈɡɹɔɪ̯n/
NounVerbGROINgroin · 1 syllableGrade 4

Accepted in official NYT Spelling Bee puzzle years: 2021, 2024, 2025, 2026

Meaning

The crease or depression of the human body at the junction of the trunk and the thigh, together with the surrounding region.

Etymology

Origin: Old English

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *gʰrem- Proto-Indo-European *-tus Proto-Germanic *grunduz Proto-Indo-European *-yom Proto-Indo-European *-yos Proto-Indo-European *-yós Proto-Germanic *-jaz Proto-Germanic *-ją Proto-Germanic *grundiją Proto-West Germanic *grundī Old English grynde Middle English grinde English grine English loininflu. English groin From earlier grine, from Middle English grinde, grynde, from Old English grynde (“abyss”) (perhaps also "depression, hollow"), probably related to Proto-Germanic *grunduz; see ground. Later altered under the influence of loin.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

inguenbreakwatergroynemolebulwarkseawalljettyanchoragebackstopbank

NYT Puzzle Appearances

Accepted in 6 recorded puzzles:

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