gainsay

Summary

Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day: “gainsay” (June 28, 2026)

Episode Overview

On this episode, the Merriam-Webster team explores the word “gainsay.” The show focuses on its definition, usage in context, and etymology, sharing useful insights to help listeners expand their vocabulary with this formal verb. Host Peter Sokolowski walks through the word’s origins and provides memorable examples to illustrate how “gainsay” is used.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Definition and Usage of “gainsay”

• Definition: “Gainsay” is a verb meaning to deny, disagree with, or contradict something or someone.

  • "Gainsay is a verb. To gainsay something is to deny or disagree with it, or to show or say that it's..." – [00:44] Peter Sokolowski

• Formality: The term is considered formal and is commonly found in negative statements, such as “there’s no gainsaying…”

2. Example in Context

• Contemporary Use: A sentence from the Boston Globe is quoted to show “gainsay” in real published writing:
  • “Whatever you think of it, there’s no gainsaying the fact that The Sound of Music is a remarkably durable vehicle. It’s frequently produced and suffered no lasting damage to its reputation from a live NBC performance in 2013.” – [00:59] Peter Sokolowski

3. Etymology and Word History

• Root Origins:

  • The “gain” in “gainsay” comes from the Old English word “gien,” meaning “against” or “in opposition to.”
  • The familiar verb “gain” is unrelated; it comes from Anglo-French.
  • In Middle English, “gain” joined with “sayen” (to say), forming “gainsayen,” and eventually became “gainsay.”
    • “If you’re thinking of our modern word gain plus say, it should help to know that the gain part comes to us from the Old English word gien, meaning against or in opposition to. The familiar verb gain comes from Anglo French and is unrelated. In Middle English, gain was joined to sayen, meaning to say to form gainsayen, which led to the modern word gainsay.” – [01:28] Peter Sokolowski

• Mnemonic Tip:

  • “So when you see gainsay, think to say against. That is, to deny or contradict.” – [01:51] Peter Sokolowski

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the unfamiliarity of the word:
  “You might have trouble figuring out the meaning of the word gainsay. If you’re thinking of our modern word gain plus say, it should help to know…” – [01:14] Peter Sokolowski

• Concise historical insight:
  “So when you see gainsay, think to say against. That is to deny or contradict.” – [01:51] Peter Sokolowski

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:44] — Introduction of the word and its meaning
• [00:59] — Example sentence from the Boston Globe
• [01:14] — Discussion of the word’s unfamiliarity and etymology
• [01:51] — Simple formula for remembering the word’s meaning

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Final Notes

• Host: Peter Sokolowski signs off with a reminder of the word’s meaning and encourages listeners to remember “gainsay” as “to say against.”
• Learn More: Listeners are directed to check out more at merriam-webster.com for definitions and word-related fun. – [02:08]

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Perfect for building a formal vocabulary, “gainsay” is a time-honored word that encapsulates the idea of verbal contradiction — and now you know both its roots and its robust contemporary usage.

Transcript

[A]

Foreign. It's the Word of the day podcast for June 28th.

[B]

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[A]

Today's word is gainsay. Spelled as one word, G A I N S A y. Gainsay is a verb. To gainsay something is to deny or disagree with it, or to show or say that it's Gainsay is a formal word usually used in negative statements. Here's the word used in a sentence from the Boston Globe Whatever you think of it, there's no gainsaying the fact that the Sound of Music is a remarkably durable vehicle. It's frequently produced and suffered no lasting damage to its reputation. From a live NBC performance in 2013, you might have trouble figuring out the meaning of the word gainsay. If you're thinking of our modern word gain plus say, it should help to know that the gain part comes to us from the Old English word gien, meaning against or in opposition to the familiar verb. Gain comes from Anglo French and is unrelated in Middle English. Gain was joined to sayen, meaning to say to form gainsayen, which led to the modern word gainsay. So when you see gainsay, think to say against. That is to deny or contradict with your word of the day. I'm Peter Sokolowski.

[C]

Visit merriamwebster.com today for definitions, wordplay and trending word lookups.