Spelling Bee Summary February 2026
In the month of February 2026, 23 words were added to the Bee lexicon, and 1 word was discontinued, for a net gain of 22 words.
Here's a summary of what came and went, along with a few notes about the month’s pangrams (numbers, types, and more), the lengths of the daily word lists, the rates at which the dreaded/adored -ED and -ING suffixes appeared, how often the BINGO characteristic appeared, center letter distribution, the complete list of pangrams and “Ins and Outs” in the month, and more.
Here's a summary of what came and went, along with a few notes about the month’s pangrams (numbers, types, and more), the lengths of the daily word lists, the rates at which the dreaded/adored -ED and -ING suffixes appeared, how often the BINGO characteristic appeared, center letter distribution, the complete list of pangrams and “Ins and Outs” in the month, and more.
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Commentary and Analysis
LexiConnexxions continues to observe and document the general decrease in the rate at which new words added to the Spelling Bee lexicon.
As noted in our January summary, we observe that increasingly, the introduction of new pangrams yields smaller numbers of new words. For context: Of the 366 Bee puzzles in 2024, 73 (19.95%) were based on pangrams and letter sets that had never been used before. These 73 puzzles added new words to the Bee lexicon at a rate of 5.35 new words per puzzle.
In February, Bee puzzles that used new pangrams produced an average of only 3.00 new words per puzzle, which is lower than the rates for January (3.67) and December (3.40). November was even lower (2.71). In particular during February:
2026-02-01: Despite a very high total word count (80), two new pangrams (BALLOONING and BILLABONG) yielded only one other new word (albino).2026-02-15: One new pangram (TRIGRAPH) yielded no other new words.2026-02-17: Two new pangrams (PILLOWING, PLOWING) yielded only one other new word (polliwog).2026-02-18: One new pangram (CORDOVAN) yielded only one other new word (convo).2026-02-21: Despite a high word count (66), six new pangrams yielded no other new words at all.
Five of the 14 new pangrams this month (35.71%) were -ING words, and all five were -ING gerunds of root verbs that were already in the Bee lexicon.
2026-02-12: FOOTMAN was restored to the active lexicon on 2026-02-12 after having been in one Bee (2018-08-26), then disallowed from another (2024-07-10). Was the 2024 omission an error, or a choice that was later reversed? If the latter, it may be part of a pattern we have previously noted of restorations of previously-disallowed words or admission of words (particularly pangrams) that were previously disallowed, either to correct errors or to liven the lexicon. 2026-02-05: Pangram MIDMONTH is not in M-W, not in NOAD, and in Collins only as “British English.” Many of the Bee words that are only in Collins are designated as “British English.” Full report forthcoming.
Spelling Bee of 2026-02-07: New pangram added previously disallowed: The letter set for the Bee of 2026-02-07 was Y A I O P R T, with center letter Y, and two pangrams, TOPIARY and PROPITIATORY. This was the fourth use of this letter set; the previous uses were on 2021-07-13 with center letter O; 2022-12-16 with center letter P; and 2024-04-24 with center letter I. In all three of those earlier puzzles, the sole pangram was TOPIARY, and in all three cases, PROPITIATORY had been specifically disallowed. Thus, the Bee of 2026-02-07 was the first time in which both pangrams appeared together, and in fact, PROPITIATORY made its début that day. While the use of pangrams previously disallowed remains rare, the sharply increased rate at which it has occurred suggests that some sort of systematic reconsideration of pangram acceptability may be underway. The rate at which new words are added to the Spelling Bee lexicon has dropped precipitously in recent months; the Bee editorial staff may be looking for new ways of infusing words while heeding their self-imposed rules of (almost) never using S, and of never using E and R together, factors that place a significant limit on possible new words.
As noted in our January summary, we observe that increasingly, the introduction of new pangrams yields smaller numbers of new words. For context: Of the 366 Bee puzzles in 2024, 73 (19.95%) were based on pangrams and letter sets that had never been used before. These 73 puzzles added new words to the Bee lexicon at a rate of 5.35 new words per puzzle.
In February, Bee puzzles that used new pangrams produced an average of only 3.00 new words per puzzle, which is lower than the rates for January (3.67) and December (3.40). November was even lower (2.71). In particular during February:
2026-02-01: Despite a very high total word count (80), two new pangrams (BALLOONING and BILLABONG) yielded only one other new word (albino).2026-02-15: One new pangram (TRIGRAPH) yielded no other new words.2026-02-17: Two new pangrams (PILLOWING, PLOWING) yielded only one other new word (polliwog).2026-02-18: One new pangram (CORDOVAN) yielded only one other new word (convo).2026-02-21: Despite a high word count (66), six new pangrams yielded no other new words at all.
Five of the 14 new pangrams this month (35.71%) were -ING words, and all five were -ING gerunds of root verbs that were already in the Bee lexicon.
2026-02-12: FOOTMAN was restored to the active lexicon on 2026-02-12 after having been in one Bee (2018-08-26), then disallowed from another (2024-07-10). Was the 2024 omission an error, or a choice that was later reversed? If the latter, it may be part of a pattern we have previously noted of restorations of previously-disallowed words or admission of words (particularly pangrams) that were previously disallowed, either to correct errors or to liven the lexicon. 2026-02-05: Pangram MIDMONTH is not in M-W, not in NOAD, and in Collins only as “British English.” Many of the Bee words that are only in Collins are designated as “British English.” Full report forthcoming.
Spelling Bee of 2026-02-07: New pangram added previously disallowed: The letter set for the Bee of 2026-02-07 was Y A I O P R T, with center letter Y, and two pangrams, TOPIARY and PROPITIATORY. This was the fourth use of this letter set; the previous uses were on 2021-07-13 with center letter O; 2022-12-16 with center letter P; and 2024-04-24 with center letter I. In all three of those earlier puzzles, the sole pangram was TOPIARY, and in all three cases, PROPITIATORY had been specifically disallowed. Thus, the Bee of 2026-02-07 was the first time in which both pangrams appeared together, and in fact, PROPITIATORY made its début that day. While the use of pangrams previously disallowed remains rare, the sharply increased rate at which it has occurred suggests that some sort of systematic reconsideration of pangram acceptability may be underway. The rate at which new words are added to the Spelling Bee lexicon has dropped precipitously in recent months; the Bee editorial staff may be looking for new ways of infusing words while heeding their self-imposed rules of (almost) never using S, and of never using E and R together, factors that place a significant limit on possible new words.
Summary of Ins and Outs
In the month of February 2026, 23 words were added to the Bee lexicon, and 1 words was discontinued, for a net gain of 22 words.
20 new words were added that had never been used before, nor previously disallowed (IN)02 words were added that had been previously disallowed (OUT-IN)01 words that had been earlier allowed, then disallowed, were allowed again (IN-OUT-IN)00 words that had been disallowed, then allowed, then disallowed, then allowed again (OUT-IN-OUT-IN)-----23 total words added
- 1 words that had been previously allowed, now disallowed (IN-OUT)- 0 words that had been disallowed, then allowed, then disallowed again (OUT-IN-OUT)- 0 words that had been allowed, then disallowed, then allowed, then disallowed again (IN-OUT-IN-OUT)- 0 words that had been disallowed, then allowed, then disallowed, then allowed, then disallowed (OUT-IN-OUT-IN-OUT)------ 1 total words removed
Net gain: 22 words
Words were added (or restored) on 09 days this month.Words were removed on 01 day this month.No words were added or removed on 19 days this month.
20 new words were added that had never been used before, nor previously disallowed (IN)02 words were added that had been previously disallowed (OUT-IN)01 words that had been earlier allowed, then disallowed, were allowed again (IN-OUT-IN)00 words that had been disallowed, then allowed, then disallowed, then allowed again (OUT-IN-OUT-IN)-----23 total words added
- 1 words that had been previously allowed, now disallowed (IN-OUT)- 0 words that had been disallowed, then allowed, then disallowed again (OUT-IN-OUT)- 0 words that had been allowed, then disallowed, then allowed, then disallowed again (IN-OUT-IN-OUT)- 0 words that had been disallowed, then allowed, then disallowed, then allowed, then disallowed (OUT-IN-OUT-IN-OUT)------ 1 total words removed
Net gain: 22 words
Words were added (or restored) on 09 days this month.Words were removed on 01 day this month.No words were added or removed on 19 days this month.
WORD COUNTS, BINGO, -ING, -ED
CENTER LETTERS
PER-PUZZLE WORD COUNTSHighest: 80 (the second-highest word count in Bee history, as of this date)Lowest: 23Average (Mean): 47.71Median: 49.50Mode(s): 38, 48, 57, 61, 39, 27, 55
The BINGO characteristic was present in 15 of 28 puzzles (53.57%)The E+D combination was present in 3 of 28 puzzles (10.71%)The I+N+G combination was present in 5 of 28 puzzles (17.86%)
The BINGO characteristic was present in 15 of 28 puzzles (53.57%)The E+D combination was present in 3 of 28 puzzles (10.71%)The I+N+G combination was present in 5 of 28 puzzles (17.86%)
2026-02-06: The Bee of 2025-02-06 was a rarity: I+N+G plus center letter E. About 15% of all Spelling Bees include the letters I+N+G. LexiConnexxions has tracked this data point only for the past two years, but by applying that recent rate to all 2,831 Bees, we can estimate that about 425 Bees have included I+N+G. We are familiar with the pleasure (or torment) of an I+N+G Bee that does not include the letter E, because we have to think of specific words that cannot be in that puzzle (root verbs that end with E, such as LINE) in order to identify their E-less gerunds in the solution set (e.g., LINING). It’s fun. Or a torment. What about when the Bee includes I+N+G and also E? That’s rare: Only 83 of 2,831 Bees (including that of 2026-02-06) have had this letter combo, which can allow inclusion of both roots and gerunds in the solution set (depending on the entire letter set, of course). But only 16 of those 83 Bees with ING plus E have had E as the center letter, making this Bee is a real rarity. Having E in the center utterly transforms the BEE+ING experience, in that the solution set will include far fewer gerunds than we have come to expect from -ING Bees. Tricky, challenging, and fun! Only eight of this Bee's 61 words used the -ING suffix, which is a very small proportion compared to most ING Bees where ING seems to get stuck on to everything. Solution sets for a few of the other ING + center letter E Bees have a similar contour.
16 different center letters were used during the month.
A report of all center letters in Spelling Bee history may be seen HERE.
Frequency order:
4 M3 I3 P2 A2 H2 L2 N2 O1 B1 E1 R1 T1 U1 V1 W1 Y
Alphabetical order:
2 A1 B1 E2 H3 I2 L4 M2 N2 O3 P1 R1 T1 U1 V1 W1 Y
2 A1 B1 E2 H3 I2 L4 M2 N2 O3 P1 R1 T1 U1 V1 W1 Y
PANGRAMS AND LETTER SETS
PANGRAMSMonthly total: 44Daily average: 1.57 per puzzle
Daily pangram numbers:6 in 1 puzzle (03.57%)5 in 0 puzzles (00.00%)4 in 1 puzzles (03.57%)3 in 0 puzzles (00.00%)2 in 8 puzzles (28.57%)1 in 18 puzzles (64.29%)
FUN FACT: The Bee of 2026-02-21 is one of only nine puzzles in Bee history to have offered six pangrams. Only four Bees have had more pangrams: three with seven pangrams, and one with eight.
Of the 28 Bee puzzles this month:
7 (25.00%) were based on pangrams and letter sets that had never been used before. These 7 puzzles introduced 14 new pangrams and added a total of 21 new words to the Bee lexicon, an average of 3.00 new words per puzzle.
21 (75.00%) were based on pangrams and letter sets that had been used before.* These 21 puzzles used 30 recycled pangrams, and added a total of 2 new words to the Bee lexicon, an average of 0.09 new words per puzzle.
* NOTE re: New Pangram Previously Disallowed: The Bee of 2026-02-07 introduced a pangram (PROPITIATORY) that had been disallowed each of the three times that the letter set had been previously used. The inclusion of a previously-disallowed pangram is very rare.
Of the 21 puzzles with repeat letter sets and repeat pangrams:4 letter sets were used for the second time6 letter sets were used for the third time8 letter sets were used for the fourth time3 letter sets were used for the fifth time
Daily pangram numbers:6 in 1 puzzle (03.57%)5 in 0 puzzles (00.00%)4 in 1 puzzles (03.57%)3 in 0 puzzles (00.00%)2 in 8 puzzles (28.57%)1 in 18 puzzles (64.29%)
FUN FACT: The Bee of 2026-02-21 is one of only nine puzzles in Bee history to have offered six pangrams. Only four Bees have had more pangrams: three with seven pangrams, and one with eight.
Of the 28 Bee puzzles this month:
7 (25.00%) were based on pangrams and letter sets that had never been used before. These 7 puzzles introduced 14 new pangrams and added a total of 21 new words to the Bee lexicon, an average of 3.00 new words per puzzle.
21 (75.00%) were based on pangrams and letter sets that had been used before.* These 21 puzzles used 30 recycled pangrams, and added a total of 2 new words to the Bee lexicon, an average of 0.09 new words per puzzle.
* NOTE re: New Pangram Previously Disallowed: The Bee of 2026-02-07 introduced a pangram (PROPITIATORY) that had been disallowed each of the three times that the letter set had been previously used. The inclusion of a previously-disallowed pangram is very rare.
Of the 21 puzzles with repeat letter sets and repeat pangrams:4 letter sets were used for the second time6 letter sets were used for the third time8 letter sets were used for the fourth time3 letter sets were used for the fifth time
ALL THE PANGRAMS USED THIS MONTH
Brand-new pangrams are designated by the + sign; all the others are recycled pangrams.
AMNIOTIC+ANATOMIC+APPLICABLEBACKROOMBALLOONING+BEAMING+BILLABONG+BULLETINCLIPPABLECOCKTAILCONFLICTCONTAMINANT+CONTAMINATION+CORDOVAN+DAYWORKDIVINELYDRAMATICEBULLIENTEPIPHANYFEMININITYFRONTMANGRAPHIC
INFLICTIONINHIBITORINTIMACYLADYBUGLIKELIHOODLURKING+MANICOTTI+MATHEMATICMENACINGMIDMONTHMONATOMIC+PILLOWING+PLOWING+PROPITIATORY+ [previously disallowed]THEMATICTOPIARYTRIGRAPH+UNEVOLVEDUNLOVEDWORKADAYWORKDAYYARDWORK
WORDS ADDED TO AND REMOVED FROM THE SPELLING BEE LEXICON THIS MONTH
WORDS ADDED TO THE LEXICON
WORDS REMOVED FROM THE LEXICON
Words added, not previously disallowed (BRAND-NEW WORDS) (IN)
albinoBALLOONINGBILLABONGBEAMINGbegemmingTRIGRAPHpillowingPLOWINGPOLLIWOGCORDOVANAMNIOTICANATOMICCONTAMINANTCONTAMINATIONMANICOTTIMONATOMICknurlLURKINGunlikingunlinking
Words added, previously disallowed
(OUT-IN)
See the list of all OUT-IN words HERE.
PROPITIATORYconvo
Words allowed, then disallowed, then allowed again (IN-OUT-IN)
See the list of all IN-OUT-IN words HERE.
footman
Words disallowed, then allowed, then disallowed, then allowed (OUT-IN-OUT-IN)
See the list of all OUT-IN-OUT-IN words HERE.
[none this month]
Words previously allowed now disallowed (IN-OUT)
See the list of all IN-OUT words HERE.
kilning
Words allowed, then disallowed, then allowed, then disallowed (IN-OUT-IN-OUT)
See the list of all IN-OUT-IN-OUT words HERE.
[none this month]
Words disallowed, then allowed, then disallowed (OUT-IN-OUT)
See the list of all OUT-IN-OUT words HERE.
Words disallowed, allowed, disallowed, allowed, disallowed (OUT-IN-OUT-IN-OUT)
See the list of all O-I-O-I-O words HERE.
[none this month
[none this month]