WordPlay: Fancy That! British Words in the Spelling Bee

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The LexiConnexxions analysis has identified many BRITISH WORDS in the Spelling Bee lexicon. Conventional hive wisdom has long been confident that “chiefly British” words are not included in the Spelling Bee. However, the Bee editor has said only that the Bee will not include “clear variants or British variants on American English words,” referring to variant spellings (e.g., colour and color).
During our topical analysis of the Bee lexicon, LexiConnexxions made note of words that Merriam-Webster (abridged) labeled as British or Scottish. These are listed below, with definitions from several dictionaries that may be among those that the Bee editor consults. As it turns out, only a few Bee words are truly “British.”
This report is a work in progress and may be incomplete.
ABOUT THE LEXITOPICS PROJECT
DICTIONARIES CITED FOR THIS REPORT
M-W Abridged = Merriam-Webster (abridged) https://www.merriam-webster.com/
M-W Unbridged = Merriam-Webster Unabridged* https://unabridged.merriam-webster.com/
NOAD = New Oxford American Dictionary* https://www.oxfordreference.com/display/10.1093/acref/9780195392883.001.0001/acref-9780195392883
COLLINS = Collins Online Dictionary https://www.collinsdictionary.com/us/ The Collins online "dictionary" agglomerates entries from multiple of its dictionaries. A typical entry begins with a summary definition, then lists the discrete definitions compiled from its various dictionaries.
These dictionary entries were retrieved on 2026-09-09 (for M-W unabridged) and 2026-09-07 (for all others). All have been lightly edited to remove pronunciations, etymological notes, example sentences, and (for the Collins entries) notes about dictionaries from which the definitions were drawn.
* subscription required
BRITISH WORDS in the Spelling Bee lexicon
Words in ALL CAPS are Spelling Bee pangrams. Bee words marked with an asterisk have been used in at least one Spelling Bee puzzle, then subsequently disallowed; they are retained here for historical interest.
BEE WORD
COMMENT
M-W ABRIDGED
M-W UNABRIDGED
NOAD
COLLINS
aeon
Three of the four dictionaries cited here label “aeon” as British.
chiefly British spelling of eon1: an immeasurably or indefinitely long period of time : age2 a: a very large division of geologic time usually longer than an erathe Archean eonb: a unit of geologic time equal to one billion years
or eon1: an immeasurably or indefinitely long period of time : age
2 in Gnosticism especially as taught by the Valentinians : one of the group of eternal beings that together form the fullness of the supreme being from whom they emanate and between whom and the world they are intermediaries3a: usually eon : any large part of geological time usually longer than an erab: a unit of geologic time equal to one billion years
eon(mainly British English aeon)1 (often eons) an indefinite and very long period of time
2 Astronomy Geology a unit of time equal to a thousand million years.
2.1 Geology a major division of geological time, subdivided into eras
3 Philosophy (in Neoplatonism, Platonism, and Gnosticism) a power existing from eternity; an emanation or phase of the supreme deity.
[British]eon
in American Englisheon
in American English1. (in Gnosticism) one of a class of powers or beings conceived as emanating from the Supreme Being and performing various functions in the operations of the universe2. See eon
in British Englishor especially US eon 1. an immeasurably long period of time; age2. a period of one thousand million years3. (often capital) Gnosticismone of the powers emanating from the supreme being and culminating in the demiurge
affray
An archaic or obsolete meaning of “affray” is a fright or terror. The word survives as a legal term meaning a fight in a public place, especially one that disturbs the peace. Two of the four dictionaries cited here label that definition as British.
1 archaic : fray, brawl2 chiefly British: a fight in a public place that disturbs the peace
archaic: to startle, frighten
1 obsolete : alarm, fright, terror2: a tumultuous assault : a violent engagement or action : fray, brawl, quarrel; specifically : the fighting of two or more persons in a public place so as to frighten others, the offense under the law consisting in the disturbance of the public peace
transitive verb1 archaic : startle, alarm2 archaica: scareb: to frighten away
dated Lawan instance of fighting in a public place that disturbs the peace
An affray is a noisy and violent fight, especially in a public place.
in American English1. a noisy brawl or quarrel; public fight or riot; breach of the peace
in American English1. a public fight; a noisy quarrel; brawl2. Law: the fighting of two or more persons in a public place
in British English1. law: a fight, noisy quarrel, or disturbance between two or more persons in a public place2. archaic: to frighten
antenatal
Each of the four dictionaries cited here labels “antenatal” as British.
chiefly Britishprenatalantenatal
chiefly British: of or relating to an unborn child: occurring during pregnancy
British Englishbefore birth; prenatal
Antenatal is used to describe things relating to the medical care of women during pregnancy.
Britishbefore birth; prenatal
in American Englishprevious to birth or to giving birth; prenatalan antenatal clinic
in British English1. occurring or present before birth; during pregnancy2. Also called: prenatal informal an examination during pregnancy
bedhead
Three of four dictionaries cited here give as their primary entry “bedhead" (or bed-head), define it as a headboard (the head of a bed), and label it as British.
The same three offer bedhead, bed head, or bed-head as a secondary entry, defining it as having mussed hair.
Only NOAD defines “bedhead” as related to hair.
1: the head of a bedespecially, Britishheadboard2 or bed head informal : hair that is mussed or tangled when a person gets out of bed
1: the head of a bed especially, British : headboard 2 or bed head , informal : hair that is mussed or tangled when a person gets out of bed
informalhair with an untidy appearance, such as results from lying in bed
also bed-head
1. A bedhead is a board that is attached to the end of a bed behind your head.[British]regional note: in AM, use headboard2. If you say that someone has bedhead hair, you mean that their hairstyle is deliberately untidy, as if they have been lying in bed.
in American English1. slang hair that is unkempt, matted, or tousled, as after sleep2. a hairstyle resembling this
in British Englishor bed-head Britisha board fixed to the end of the bed behind one's head
BLOCKABLE
Of the four dictionaries cited here, only Collins has an entry for “blockable,” and labels it as British.
The word you’ve entered isn’t in the dictionary.
The word you’ve entered isn’t in the dictionary.
No exact match found for “blockable” in US English
in British Englishable to be blocked or prevented
bloke
Each of the four dictionaries cited here labels “bloke” as British.
bloke
chiefly British, informalman sense 1a(1), fellow sense 4c

bloke
or bloakchiefly British: man, chap, fellow —used informally and commonly implying mild disrespect when applied to a superior and slight or affected deprecation when used of oneself

bloke
informal British Englisha man

bloke
A bloke is a man.[British, informal]He is a really nice bloke.
in American Englishslang, chiefly Britisha man; fellow; chap
in American Englishchiefly Brit informalman; fellow; guy
in British EnglishBritish and Australianan informal word for man
bollix
Though none of the four dictionaries cited here labels “bollix” as British, all four dictionaries indicate that the word is derived from (or a variant spelling of) “bollocks," a word that all four label as British.
to throw into disorderalso : bungle —usually used with up
bollix noun
or less commonly bolix1: to throw into disorder : involve in bewildering entanglements —usually used with up2: to perform or carry out badly : botch, bungle —often used with up
bollixor less commonly bolix: a confused jumble : hodgepodge, mess
vulgar slangverb(usually bollix something up) [with object]bungle (a task).plural nounvariant spelling of bollocks
in American Englishto make a muddle of; bungle; botch [usually with up]
in American Englishinformal1. (often fol. by up) to do (something) badly; to bungle2. a confused bungleAlso: bolix, bollox
bonny
Each of the four dictionaries cited here labels “bonny” as chiefly British or Scottish.
variants or less commonly bonnie
chiefly Britishattractive, fairalso : fine, excellent
or less commonly bonnie1 chiefly British : having a pleasing appearance:a of a person : attractive especially as suggesting health, charm, sweetness, and livelinessb of a place : pleasant especially through the appeal of the mild, placid, and rural2 a chiefly British : of considerable degree, size, or quantityb British(1) : in good health(2) : plump3 archaic : happy, gay4 British : very pleasant : fine, excellent —a generalized term of approbation sometimes used ironically
(also bonnie)
Scottish English, Northern England1 attractive or beautiful: a bonny lass
1.1 (of a baby) plump and healthy-looking.
1.2 sizable; considerable (usually expressing approval)
(my bonny) literary: used as a form of address for one's beloved or baby.
Someone or something that is bonny is attractive and nice to look at.[mainly Scottish, or Northern England]
in American English or bonnienow chiefly British1. handsome or pretty, with a healthy glow2. fine; pleasant
in American English1. chiefly Scot pleasing to the eye; handsome; pretty2. Brit dialect (of people)a. (of people)healthy, sweet, and livelyb. (of places)placid; tranquilc. pleasing; agreeable; good3. Brit dialect pleasingly; agreeably; very well4. a pretty girl or young womanAlso: bonnie
in British English1. Scottish and Northern England dialectbeautiful or handsome a bonny lass2. merry or lively 3. good or fine 4. (esp of babies) plump5. Scottish and Northern England dialectconsiderable; to be reckoned with6. informal agreeably or well
bookable
Three of four dictionaries cited here label "bookable" (meaning able to be booked or reserved in advance) as British.
chiefly Britishthat may be booked or reserved in advance
chiefly British: that may be booked or reserved in advance
1 able to be reserved
2 Soccer (of an offense) serious enough for the offending player to be cautioned by the referee
bookable
1. If something such as a theatre seat or plane ticket is bookable, it can be booked in advance.
[mainly British]2. In sports such as football, a bookable offence is an action for which a player can be officially warned by the referee.
in British English1. capable of being reserved in advance2. meriting the punishment of a booking
carpark
Though all four dictionaries format “car park” as an open compound, each labels the word as British.
[M-W’s only entry is the open compound car park]
car parkchiefly Britisha lot or garage for parking
[M-W’s only entry is the open compound car park]
car parkchiefly British: an area set apart for the parking of motor vehicles : parking lot
[NOAD’s only entry is the open compound car park]
car parkBritish Englishan area or building where cars or other vehicles may be left temporarily; a parking lot or parking garage
[Collins’ primary entry is the open compound car park]
car parkalso carpark
A car park is an area or building where people can leave their cars.[British]regional note: in AM, use parking lot
in American EnglishBritish parking lot
in American Englishchiefly Brita parking lot
in British Englishan area or building reserved for parking cars.Usual US and Canadian term: parking lot
clour*
Three of the four dictionaries cited here label "clour” as Scottish; the fourth does not include an entry.
chiefly Scottish: a bump on the head made by a blow, also: the blow itself
verbchiefly Scottishto batter, thump
chiefly Scottish: a bump on the head made by a blow also : the blow itself
verbchiefly Scottish: batter, thump
No exact match found for “clour” in US English
in British EnglishScottish
1. a bump on the head2. to thump or dent
colour*
Each of the four dictionaries cited here labels “colour” as British.
chiefly British spelling of color
chiefly British spelling of color
British English colour
in American EnglishBrit. sp. of color
in American Englishchiefly Brit see color
in British Englishor US color
cuppa
Each of the four dictionaries cited here labels “cuppa” as British.
chiefly British: a cup of tea
chiefly British: a cup of tea
informalBritish English
a cup of tea
contractioncup of
A cuppa is a cup of tea.[British, informal]
in American EnglishBritish, informala cup of tea
in American EnglishBrit informala cup of tea
in British Englishor cuppermainly British and Australian informala cup of tea
daft
Each of the four dictionaries cited here labels "daft” as British or Scottish.
1 chiefly British, informal : silly, foolish2 chiefly British, informal : mad3 Scotland : frivolously merry
1a: silly, foolish, especially : foolishly fondb: out of one's mind : mad, insane2 Scottish : merry and frivolous : frolicsome
informalBritish English1 silly, foolish, or eccentric2 (daft about) infatuated with
If you describe a person or their behaviour as daft, you think that they are stupid, impractical, or rather strange.[British, informal]
in American English1. silly; foolish2. mentally ill3. Scottish merry or frolicsome in a giddy way
in American English1. senseless, stupid, or foolish2. offensive having a mental illness3. Scot merry; playful; frolicsome
in British Englishmainly British1. informal foolish or stupid2. offensive a slang word for insane3. informal (postpositive; foll by about)extremely fond (of)4. slang frivolous; giddy
dangly
Of the four dictionaries cited here, only two have entries for “dangly,” and only one of those two labels it as British.
The word you’ve entered isn’t in the dictionary.
The word you've entered isn't in the Unabridged Dictionary.
hanging or swinging loosely
in British Englishdangling; hanging down
decommit
Of the four dictionaries cited here, only two have entries for “decommit,” and only one of those labels it as British.
The word you’ve entered isn’t in the dictionary.
The word you've entered isn't in the Unabridged Dictionary.
1 to withdraw from or retract an obligation, commitment, or pledge1.1 US English (of an athlete) to withdraw one's pledge to attend and play a sport for a particular college or university
in British Englishpast participle of verb, past tense of verb decommit
in British Englishto withdraw from a commitment or agreed course of action
decommitted
Of the four dictionaries cited here, only two have entries for “decommitted,” and only one of those labels it as British.
The word you’ve entered isn’t in the dictionary.
The word you've entered isn't in the Unabridged Dictionary.
1 to withdraw from or retract an obligation, commitment, or pledge1.1 US English (of an athlete) to withdraw one's pledge to attend and play a sport for a particular college or university
in British Englishpast participle of verb, past tense of verb decommit

in British Englishto withdraw from a commitment or agreed course of action
delayable
Of the four dictionaries cited here, only one has an entry for “delayable,” and labels it as British.
The word you’ve entered isn’t in the dictionary.
The word you've entered isn't in the Unabridged Dictionary.
No exact match found for “delayable” in US English
in British Englishable to be delayed
dodgy
Each of the four dictionaries cited here labels "dodgy” as British.
1 chiefly British : evasive, tricky2 chiefly Britisha : not sound, good, or reliableb : questionable, suspicious3 chiefly British : requiring skill or care in handling or coping with
1: full of dodges : evasive, tricky2 chiefly British : not sound, stable, or reliable : questionable3 chiefly British : requiring skill or care in handling or coping with; also : chancy, risky
informalBritish English1 dishonest or unreliable1.1 potentially dangerous1.2 of low quality
1. If you describe someone or something as dodgy, you disapprove of them because they seem rather dishonest and unreliable.[British, informal, disapproval]2. If you say that something is dodgy, you mean that it seems rather risky, dangerous, or unreliable.[British, informal]3. If you say that someone has a dodgy heart or knee, for example, you mean that that part of their body is not very strong or healthy.[British, informal]
in American Englishinformal, chiefly British1. tricky or evasive2. risky or uncertain
in American English1. inclined to dodge2. evasively tricky3. chiefly Britrisky; hazardous; chancy
in British EnglishBritish, Australian and New Zealand informal1. risky, difficult, or dangerous2. uncertain or unreliable; tricky
electee
Of the four dictionaries cited here, only one has an entry for “electee,” and labels it as British.
The word you’ve entered isn’t in the dictionary.
The word you've entered isn't in the Unabridged Dictionary.
No exact match found for “electee” in US English
in British Englisha person who is elected
expat
Two of the four dictionaries cited here label “expat” as British.
chiefly British: an expatriate person : expatriate
noun: expatriateexpat adjective
informala person who lives outside their native countrydenoting or relating to a person living outside their native country
An expat is someone who is living in a country which is not their own.[British, informal]
in American Englishinformal, chiefly British short for expatriate
in American Englishinformalan expatriate
in British Englishinformal short for expatriate
fiddly
Each of the four dictionaries cited here labels "fiddly” as British.
chiefly British: requiring close attention to detail : fussyespecially : requiring an annoying amount of close attention
chiefly British: requiring close attention to detail : fussyespecially : requiring an annoying amount of close attention
informalBritish Englishcomplicated or detailed and awkward to do or use
Something that is fiddly is difficult to do or use because it involves small or complicated objects.[British]
in American Englishchiefly Britishof or characterized by small, typically fussy or annoying, details
in British Englishsmall and awkward to do or handle
fillable
Of the four dictionaries cited here, only one has an entry for “fillable,” and labels it as British.
The word you’ve entered isn’t in the dictionary.
The word you've entered isn't in the Unabridged Dictionary.
No exact match found for “fillable” in US English
in British Englishable to be filled
flatmate
Each of the four dictionaries cited here labels "flatmate” as British.
chiefly British: one of two or more persons sharing the same flat
chiefly British: one of two or more persons sharing the same flat : roommate
British Englisha person who shares a flat (apartment) with others
Someone's flatmate is a person who shares a flat with them.[British]regional note: in AM, use roommate
in American Englishchiefly Britisha person who shares a flat2 with another or others
in British EnglishBritisha person with whom one shares a flat
gawp
Each of the four dictionaries cited here labels "gawp” as British.
chiefly British:to gawk
or less commonly gaupchiefly British: gawk
noun dialectal: a stupid awkward person : simpleton
informal British Englishto stare openly in a stupid or rude manner
To gawp at someone or something means to stare at them in a rude, stupid, or unthinking way.[British, informal]
in American Englishslangto stare open-mouthed; gawk or gape
in American Englishchiefly Northern U.S.to stare with the mouth open in wonder or astonishment; gape
in British EnglishBritish slangto stare stupidly; gape
gawping
Each of the four dictionaries cited here labels "gawping” as British.
chiefly British:to gawk
or less commonly gaupchiefly British: gawk
informal British Englishto stare openly in a stupid or rude manner
To gawp at someone or something means to stare at them in a rude, stupid, or unthinking way.[British, informal]
in American Englishslangto stare open-mouthed; gawk or gape
in American Englishchiefly Northern U.S.to stare with the mouth open in wonder or astonishment; gape
in British EnglishBritish slangto stare stupidly; gape
hart
Three of the four dictionaries cited here label “hart” as British.
chiefly British: the male of the red deer especially when over five years old : stag
chiefly British: the male of the red deer especially when over five years old : stag
an adult male deer, especially a red deer over five years old.
in American Englisha male of the European red deer, esp. after its fifth year, when the crown antlers are formed; stag
in American Englisha male deer, commonly of the red deer, Cervus elaphus, esp. after its fifth year
in British Englishthe male of the deer, esp the red deer aged five years or more
hobnobby*
Only one of the four dictionaries cited here includes an entry for “hobnobby,” and it is labeled as British.
The word you’ve entered isn’t in the dictionary.
The word you've entered isn't in the Unabridged Dictionary.
No exact match found for “hobnobby” in US English
in British Englishinformaltending to hobnob or characterized by hobnobbing
hullo*
Each of the four dictionaries cited here labels "hullo” as British.
chiefly British spelling of hello
chiefly British spelling of hello
(mainly British English hullo)exclamation1 used as a greeting or to begin a phone conversation
1.1 British English used to express surprise
1.2 used as a cry to attract someone's attention
1.3 expressing sarcasm or anger
an utterance of “hello”; a greeting
say or shout “hello”; greet someone
in American Englishinterjection, noun, verb intransitive, verb transitiveinformal var. of hello
in American English1. var. of hallo2. chiefly Brit var. of hello
in British Englisha variant of hello
inbuilt
Two of the four dictionaries cited here label “inbuilt” as British.
chiefly British: built-in
adjective : built-in
existing as an original or essential part of something or someone
An inbuilt quality is one that someone has from the time they were born or that something has from the time it was produced.[mainly British]regional note: in AM, usually use built-in
in American Englishchiefly British built-in
in American Englishbuilt-in
journo
Three of the four dictionaries cited here label “journo” as British.
chiefly British: journalist
chiefly British: journalist
informala journalist
in American Englishslang term for journalist
in British Englishan informal word for journalist
in British English1. a person whose occupation is journalism2. a person who keeps a journal
leant
Each of the four dictionaries cited here labels "leant” as British.
chiefly British past tense of lean
chiefly British past tense of lean
past and past participle mainly British English leant
Leant is one of the forms of the past tense and past participle of lean.[British]
in American Englishchiefly British pt. & pp. of lean
in American Englishchiefly Brit a pp. and pt. of lean
in British Englisha past tense and past participle of lean
lorry
Each of the four dictionaries cited here labels "lorry” as British.
chiefly Britisha motortruck
1a: a large low horse-drawn wagon without sides and with a platform that slightly overhangs the four small heavy wheelsb British : motortruck especially : one with low or open sides and sometimes a canvas cover2: any of various trucks running on rails: such asa British : a light easily movable flatcar for the use of workmen on railroadsb: larry
British Englisha large, heavy motor vehicle for transporting goods or troops; a truck
A lorry is a large vehicle that is used to transport goods by road.[British]
in American English1. a low, flat wagon without sides2. any of various trucks fitted to run on rails3. British a motor truck
in American English1. chiefly Brit a motor truck, esp. a large one2. any of various conveyances running on rails, as for transporting material in a mine or factory3. a long, low, horse-drawn wagon without sides
in British English1. a large motor vehicle designed to carry heavy loads, esp one with a flat platform. US and Canadian name: truck. See also articulated vehicle2. See off the back of a lorry3. any of various vehicles with a flat load-carrying surface, esp one designed to run on rails
lovey
Only two of the four dictionaries cited here include entries for “lovey” as a standalone word, and both label it as British.
We have one entry that includes the term lovey.
lovey-doveyadjective: expressing much love or sentimentality
2 entries found containing "lovey" in the Unabridged Dictionary
1 lovey-dovey (noun)2 lovey-dovey (adjective)

informalBritish Englishused as an affectionate form of address
informalBritish Englishshort for lovey-dovey
in American Englishchiefly Brit informalsweetheart; dear: used as a term of endearment
in British EnglishBritish informalanother word for love
mack*
Three of the four dictionaries cited here have entries for “mack” as short for “macintosh” (the garment) and each of the three labels it as British.
variant spelling of macBritish: mackintosh
interjection, obsolete—used as a mild oath
slang: pimp
variant spelling of 2mac(2) macor mack1 British : mackintosh2: mackinaw

informalNorth American Englisha confident, successful man who has many sexual partners.

in American Englishinformal mackintosh (sense 1)
in American Englishslang See pimp
in American Englishinformal see mac2
in British EnglishBritish informalshort for mackintosh (sense 1), mackintosh (sense 3)
in British Englishslanga pimp
matey
Each of the four dictionaries cited here labels "matey” as British.
chiefly British: companionable
1 chiefly British : mate2 British : a dockyard workman
adjective chiefly British: cozily familiar and informal in personal relationship : friendly and companionable in an easygoing way : chummy
informalBritish Englishused as a familiar and sometimes hostile form of address, especially to a stranger

1. If someone is matey, they behave in a very friendly way, usually without sincerity.[British, informal]2. You can address someone as matey when you are being friendly towards them. People sometimes also use matey when they are annoyed with someone.[British, informal, feelings]
in American EnglishBritish, informal1. friendly; companionable2. a chum; buddy; pal
in American Englishchiefly Brit informalcomrade; chum; buddy
in American Englishchiefly Brit informalsociable; friendly
in British Englishor matyBritish informal1. friendly or intimate; on good terms2. friend or fellow: usually used in direct address




































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