comma

noun

com·​ma ˈkä-mə How to pronounce comma (audio)
Synonyms of commanext
1
: a punctuation mark, used especially as a mark of separation within the sentence
2
: pause, interval
3
: any of several nymphalid butterflies (genus Polygonia) with a silvery comma-shaped mark on the underside of the hind wings

Examples of comma in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Even if an applicant uses AI to help optimize their application, if a tracking system is flagging resumes for specific keywords or phrases, a misplaced comma may be the reason an applicant is never seriously considered, Dobson said. — Rachel Barber, USA Today, 21 Aug. 2026 Peyush Bansal, the cofounder of eyewear retailer Lenskart Solutions, is the latest Indian to join the three-comma club. — Anu Raghunathan, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026 When something’s off (like a misplaced comma or wrong code), the claim gets kicked back, and either the patient or the doctor eats the cost. — Lily Mae Lazarus, Fortune, 22 July 2026 However, the report noted that much of this rise was due to an increase in the number of billionaires, not just three-comma club members getting richer. — Hayley Cuccinello, CNBC, 2 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for comma

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin, from Latin, part of a sentence, from Greek komma segment, clause, from koptein to cut — more at capon

First Known Use

1554, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of comma was in 1554

Phrases Containing comma

Rhymes for comma

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Browse Nearby Words

comm
comma
comma butterfly
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Cite this Entry

“Comma.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/comma. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

comma

noun
com·​ma ˈkäm-ə How to pronounce comma (audio)
: a punctuation mark , used chiefly to show separation of words or word groups within a sentence

More from Merriam-Webster on comma

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for comma

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about comma

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