NYT Dictionary

TIKI

/ˈtiːkiː/
NounTI-kiti-ki · 2 syllablesGrade 12

Accepted in official NYT Spelling Bee puzzle years: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2024, 2025, 2026

Meaning

A carved talisman in humanoid form, common to the cultures of the Pacific Ocean.

Etymology

Origin: Unknown

Borrowed from Māori tiki (“figurine”).

NYT Puzzle Appearances

Accepted in 8 recorded puzzles:

Join the Spelling Bee Community

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