Spelling Bee Summary March 2026
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In the month of March 2026, 23 words were added to the Bee lexicon, and 00 words were discontinued, for a net gain of 23 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.
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.
Increasingly, new pangrams are bringing with them fewer other new words (or none at all), meaning that pangrams comprise a larger proportion of new words than previously. In March, 11 of 23 new words (47.83%) were pangrams.
Increasingly, new pangrams, and the new words they bring, are not really new to the lexicon, but are simply versions of existing Bee words (e.g., different verb forms, adjectival forms, or related words created by adding or removing suffixes, prefixes, etc.) Thus, an increasing proportion of new Bee words are simply variations on what already exists in the lexicon.
These new-ish pangrams are bringing fewer new words with them into the lexicon. In 2024, each new pangram introduced (on average) 5.35 new words per Bee; In 2025, that number was 4.35, a reduction of 18%. So far in 2026, this rate has continued to decline; the numbers in January and February were 3.67 and 3.00, respectively, and in March, the number fell again, to 2.63.
Related: In March, 4 of the 23 new words added (17.39%) had been previously disallowed. This seems to be a higher proportion than usual and may be another indication that new words are harder to come by.
Increased use of pangrams previously disallowed: The Bee of 2026-03-22 introduced a pangram (GLADHANDING) that had been disallowed each of the two times that the letter set had been previously used. The inclusion of a previously-disallowed pangram is very rare, as explained and demonstrated in the LexiConnexxions report "Pangrams Previously Disallowed," which can be read HERE. A recent increase in the introduction of previously-rejected pangrams may indicate that some systematic reconsideration may be underway.
FUN FACT: On 2026-03-17, the Bee Lexicon reached 11,000. With the addition of six new words on March 17, the lexicon surpassed 11,000 unique words that have been used in the Bee since it was launched in May 2018 (per sbsolver.com), most of which are still in current use.
Increasingly, new pangrams are bringing with them fewer other new words (or none at all), meaning that pangrams comprise a larger proportion of new words than previously. In March, 11 of 23 new words (47.83%) were pangrams.
Increasingly, new pangrams, and the new words they bring, are not really new to the lexicon, but are simply versions of existing Bee words (e.g., different verb forms, adjectival forms, or related words created by adding or removing suffixes, prefixes, etc.) Thus, an increasing proportion of new Bee words are simply variations on what already exists in the lexicon.
These new-ish pangrams are bringing fewer new words with them into the lexicon. In 2024, each new pangram introduced (on average) 5.35 new words per Bee; In 2025, that number was 4.35, a reduction of 18%. So far in 2026, this rate has continued to decline; the numbers in January and February were 3.67 and 3.00, respectively, and in March, the number fell again, to 2.63.
Related: In March, 4 of the 23 new words added (17.39%) had been previously disallowed. This seems to be a higher proportion than usual and may be another indication that new words are harder to come by.
Increased use of pangrams previously disallowed: The Bee of 2026-03-22 introduced a pangram (GLADHANDING) that had been disallowed each of the two times that the letter set had been previously used. The inclusion of a previously-disallowed pangram is very rare, as explained and demonstrated in the LexiConnexxions report "Pangrams Previously Disallowed," which can be read HERE. A recent increase in the introduction of previously-rejected pangrams may indicate that some systematic reconsideration may be underway.
FUN FACT: On 2026-03-17, the Bee Lexicon reached 11,000. With the addition of six new words on March 17, the lexicon surpassed 11,000 unique words that have been used in the Bee since it was launched in May 2018 (per sbsolver.com), most of which are still in current use.
Summary of Ins and Outs
In the month of MARCH 2026, 23 words were added to the Bee lexicon, and 00 words were discontinued, for a net gain of 23 words.
19 new words were added that had never been used before, nor previously disallowed (IN)03 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
- 0 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)------ 0 total words removed
Net gain: 23 words
Words were added (or restored) on 11 days this month.Words were removed on 00 days this month.No words were added or removed on 20 days this month.
19 new words were added that had never been used before, nor previously disallowed (IN)03 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
- 0 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)------ 0 total words removed
Net gain: 23 words
Words were added (or restored) on 11 days this month.Words were removed on 00 days this month.No words were added or removed on 20 days this month.
WORD COUNTS, BINGO, -ING, -ED
CENTER LETTERS
PER-PUZZLE WORD COUNTSHighest: 71Lowest: 21Average (Mean): 48.45Median: 50Mode(s): 50
The BINGO characteristic was present in 19 of 31 puzzles (61.29%)
The E+D combination was present in 6 of 31 puzzles (19.35%)The I+N+G combination was present in 5 of 31 puzzles (16.13%)ING and ED together? None this month
The BINGO characteristic was present in 19 of 31 puzzles (61.29%)
The E+D combination was present in 6 of 31 puzzles (19.35%)The I+N+G combination was present in 5 of 31 puzzles (16.13%)ING and ED together? None this month
14 different center letters were used during the month.
A report of all center letters in Spelling Bee history may be seen HERE.
Frequency order:
5 N4 I3 A3 L3 M3 R2 B2 U1 C1 E1 F1 G1 O1 T
Alphabetical order:
3 A2 B1 C1 E1 F1 G4 I3 L3 M5 N1 O3 R1 T2 U
3 A2 B1 C1 E1 F1 G4 I3 L3 M5 N1 O3 R1 T2 U
PANGRAMS AND LETTER SETS
ALL THE PANGRAMS USED THIS MONTH
Brand-new pangrams are designated by the + sign; all the others are recycled pangrams.
PANGRAMS
Monthly total: 47Daily average: 1.52 per puzzleDaily pangram numbers:6 in 0 puzzles (00.00%)5 in 0 puzzles (00.00%)4 in 0 puzzles (00.00%)3 in 4 puzzles (12.90%)2 in 8 puzzles (25.81%)1 in 19 puzzles (61.29%)
Of the 31 Bee puzzles this month:
8 (25.81%) were based on pangrams and letter sets that had never been used before. These 8 puzzles introduced 10 new pangrams and added a total of 21 new words to the Bee lexicon, an average of 2.63 new words per puzzle.
23 (74.19%) were based on pangrams and letter sets that had been used before. These 23 puzzles used 36 recycled pangrams (and introduced one pangram that had been previously disallowed*), and added a total of 04 new words to the Bee lexicon, an average of 0.17 new words per puzzle.
* NOTE re: New Pangram Previously Disallowed: The Bee of 2026-03-22 introduced a pangram (GLADHANDING) that had been disallowed each of the two times that the letter set had been previously used. The inclusion of a previously-disallowed pangram is very rare, as explained and demonstrated in the LexiConnexxions report "Pangrams Previously Disallowed," which can be read HERE.
Of the 23 puzzles with repeat letter sets and repeat pangrams:7 letter sets were used for the second time9 letter sets were used for the third time5 letter sets were used for the fourth time2 letter sets were used for the fifth time
Average “age” of all pangrams and letter sets this month: 2.55Average “age” of recycled pangrams and letter sets this month: 3.09
8 (25.81%) were based on pangrams and letter sets that had never been used before. These 8 puzzles introduced 10 new pangrams and added a total of 21 new words to the Bee lexicon, an average of 2.63 new words per puzzle.
23 (74.19%) were based on pangrams and letter sets that had been used before. These 23 puzzles used 36 recycled pangrams (and introduced one pangram that had been previously disallowed*), and added a total of 04 new words to the Bee lexicon, an average of 0.17 new words per puzzle.
* NOTE re: New Pangram Previously Disallowed: The Bee of 2026-03-22 introduced a pangram (GLADHANDING) that had been disallowed each of the two times that the letter set had been previously used. The inclusion of a previously-disallowed pangram is very rare, as explained and demonstrated in the LexiConnexxions report "Pangrams Previously Disallowed," which can be read HERE.
Of the 23 puzzles with repeat letter sets and repeat pangrams:7 letter sets were used for the second time9 letter sets were used for the third time5 letter sets were used for the fourth time2 letter sets were used for the fifth time
Average “age” of all pangrams and letter sets this month: 2.55Average “age” of recycled pangrams and letter sets this month: 3.09
ACRIDLYAFFIRMINGANABOLIC+AUDIBLYBEFOULED+BENEVOLENTBLOCKABLEBORROWINGBROWNINGBULLFROGCHARIOTCLOUDILY+CONTINUITYCOOKABLECORMORANT+EFFECTINGEMBANKMENTEXCELLINGFARMINGFRAMINGGLADHANDING [previously disallowed]HANDLINGHARICOTHEGEMONY
HIGHLANDHOMOGENYINEPTLYINFECTINGINTOXICANT+INTOXICATION+JANITORJOCULARLETDOWNLOCKABLELUNCHEDMANDOLINMONOCRAT+PENCILED+PENCILED+PENITENTLYRADICALLYTHORACICTRIBUTARYUNCLENCHEDUNFADING+UPFIELDVULPINE
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)
anoxicINTOXICANTINTOXICATIONcatamaranCORMORANTMONOCRATclippedPENCILEDBEFOULEDbefuddlebefuddledbluffedbuffedflubbedMATCHEDUNFADINGANABOLICCLOUDILYcloudy
Words added, previously disallowed
(OUT-IN)
See the list of all OUT-IN words HERE.
gnomongladhandGLADHANDING
Words allowed, then disallowed, then allowed again (IN-OUT-IN)
See the list of all IN-OUT-IN words HERE.
biddy
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.
[none this month]
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]