balbriggan
A knitted cotton fabric originally associated with a town in Ireland.
The museum displayed a balbriggan garment from the textile collection.
Origin: Named for Balbriggan, a town in Ireland. Reference ↗
← Word LibraryWORDS THAT REACHED THE STAGE noun noun noun adjective noun noun verb 1932 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP 1939 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP 1940 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP 1951 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP 1976 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP Practice championship words →
From the 2026 bee.
Meet seven words listed in the first round of the national spelling bee. Listen, learn, then try a round of your own.
Practice these words →This is a small selection, not the complete round or the current official study list. Meanings, examples and AI-generated American English audio are independent study references. Individual recordings have not all been reviewed by a human.
astilbe
A flowering plant grown for feathery clusters of small blooms.
Pink astilbe grew beside the shaded garden path.
Origin: From a botanical name formed from Greek elements meaning not shining. Reference ↗
stupa
A domed Buddhist monument, often built to contain sacred relics.
Visitors walked quietly around the stupa.
Origin: From Sanskrit stūpa. Reference ↗
effete
Marked by excessive self-indulgence and moral decay.
A group of effete self-professed intellectuals.
Origin: Source-language links: Latin. Reference ↗
anathema
A detested person.
He is an anathema to me.
Origin: Source-language links: Ancient Greek, Late Latin. The source may include more than one historical route or component. Reference ↗
presidio
A fortress established in the southwestern United States by the Spanish in order to protect their missions and other holdings.
Tucson was first settled as a walled presidio.
Origin: Source-language links: Latin, Spanish. The source may include more than one historical route or component. Reference ↗
concatenate
Add by linking or joining so as to form a chain or series.
Concatenate characters.
Past championship words
These five words already in our bank were winning spellings in national competitions. Follow the source to check the year and historical record.
knack
A special way of doing something.
canonical
Conforming to orthodox or recognized rules.
therapy
(medicine) the act of caring for someone (as by medication or remedial training etc.).
insouciant
Marked by blithe unconcern.
narcolepsy
A sleep disorder characterized by sudden and uncontrollable episodes of deep sleep.
Explore earlier study guides
These words appeared in official study guides. The guides do not establish that they were asked in a competition.
2023 study guide
A small selection of 8 independently explained practice words.
Practice 2023 study words →2024 study guide
A small selection of 8 independently explained practice words.
Practice 2024 study words →The word appearances are based on the official 2026 round-one results, checked November 10, 2026. The results page may be updated for a later year. Spell Bee Practice is independent and is not affiliated with Scripps.