z

1 of 4

noun (1)

ˈzē How to pronounce z (audio)
Canadian, British, and Australian
ˈzed How to pronounce z (audio)
chiefly dialectal
ˈi-zərd How to pronounce z (audio)
plural z's or zs
often capitalized, often attributive
1
a
: the 26th and last letter of the English alphabet
b
: a graphic representation of this letter
c
: a speech counterpart of orthographic z
2
: a graphic device for reproducing the letter z
3
: one designated z especially as the 26th in order or class or the third in order or class when x is made the first
4
: something shaped like the letter Z
5
: wink sense 1
usually used in plural
catch some z's before dinner

z

2 of 4

abbreviation (1)

1
zero
2
zone

Z

3 of 4

noun (2)

Z

4 of 4

abbreviation (2)

variants or ZD
zenith distance

Example Sentences

Noun (1) a word that begins with a z a word that begins with z

Word History

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun (2)

1967, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of z was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near z

Cite this Entry

“Z.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/z. Accessed 7 Dec. 2022.

Kids Definition

z

noun
ˈzē,
 British & Canadian  ˈzed
plural z's or zs
often capitalized
1
: the 26th and last letter of the English alphabet
2
: a brief nap
catch some z's before dinner

Medical Definition

Z

symbol
1
atomic number
2
impedance

More from Merriam-Webster on z

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