Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
spelling contest

spelling contest

1 1.6
A competition where people try to write words correctly and are out if they make a mistake
  • noun
  • /ˈspɛlɪŋ ˈkɒntɛst/
translation icon : concurso de ortografía
  • During the spelling contest, each participant took turns spelling difficult words in front of the audience.

Examples

  • Bafflingly, there is no mention of spelling contests of any kind during this period.

    Fiction book (2000)

  • You in that spelling contest tomorrow?

    Bee Season (2005)

  • The school organized a spelling contest to encourage students to improve their writing skills.

  • After weeks of practice, she finally won the spelling contest held at the local community center.

Synonyms

spelling bee
vsspelling contest
37 2.9

A contest where people say the letters of words and are out if they make a mistake

is the broader phrase describing that elimination-style event
spelldown
vsspelling contest
  • US
9.1

A contest where people spell words and leave if they spell one wrong

is the general term for the same elimination-style event

How Competitive

spelling bee
37 2.9
spelling contest
1 1.6
Wordle
  • Texting
1 4.6

Surface Forms

spelling contest singular
spelling contests plural

Morphology

spelling + contest

The meaning 'a competition about spelling' is directly and transparently derived from combining 'spelling' (the arrangement or naming of letters) with 'contest' (a competitive event). This compositional, noun+noun pattern is straightforward and cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Spelling contest comes from the simple picture of people taking turns to spell words aloud while everyone watches; if someone spells a word wrong they are put 'out' and stop competing, so a spelling contest is a competition where mistakes lead to elimination.