Summary of Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day Episode: "Meritorious"

Release Date: July 18, 2025

Introduction

In the July 18, 2025 episode of Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day, host Peter Sokolowski presents the featured word: meritorious. This episode aims to enhance listeners' vocabulary by providing an in-depth exploration of the word's meaning, usage, and etymology.

Defining "Meritorious"

Peter Sokolowski begins by clearly spelling and defining the word:

“Today's word is meritorious, spelled M-E-R-I-T-O-R-I-O-U-S. Meritorious is an adjective. It's a formal word used to describe something that is deserving of honor, praise, or esteem.”
— Peter Sokolowski, [00:07]

This definition establishes "meritorious" as a term of high regard, suitable for formal contexts where recognition is due.

Usage in Context

To illustrate the word's application, Sokolowski provides a real-world example:

“Here's the word in a sentence from the Fort Worth Star Telegram: 'The Air Medal is awarded to anyone who distinguishes themselves through meritorious achievement while flying.'”
— Peter Sokolowski, [00:25]

This example demonstrates how "meritorious" is used to acknowledge significant accomplishments, particularly in official or ceremonial contexts.

Etymology and Origins

Delving into the word's history, Sokolowski explains its linguistic roots:

“You can use that fact to remember that the word meritorious has its roots in the Latin verb merere, which means to earn. Merere is also the source of the English noun and verb merit.”
— Peter Sokolowski, [00:45]

Understanding that "meritorious" derives from Latin emphasizes the inherent connection between earning and deserving recognition.

Historical vs. Contemporary Meanings

Sokolowski contrasts the historical and modern interpretations of "meritorious":

“Nowadays, the rewards earned for meritorious acts are likely to be of an immaterial nature: gratitude, admiration, or praise. But that wasn't always so. The history of meritorious recalls a reward more concrete in nature—cold, hard cash. In Latin, meritorious literally means bringing in money.”
— Peter Sokolowski, [01:10]

This insight highlights the evolution of the word from tangible rewards to more abstract forms of recognition, reflecting societal changes in how achievements are honored.

Conclusion and Further Engagement

Concluding the episode, Sokolowski encourages listeners to incorporate the word into their daily vocabulary and explore more through Merriam-Webster's resources:

“With your word of the day, I'm Peter Sokolowski. Visit Merriam-Webster.com today for definitions, wordplay, and trending word lookups.”
— Peter Sokolowski, [01:30]

This call-to-action invites listeners to engage further with language and expand their lexical knowledge.

Key Takeaways

• Definition: Meritorious is an adjective meaning deserving of honor, praise, or esteem.

• Usage: Commonly used in formal contexts to acknowledge significant achievements.

• Etymology: Originates from the Latin merere, meaning "to earn," related to the word merit.

• Historical Meaning: Initially implied tangible rewards, such as money.

• Modern Meaning: Now often refers to intangible rewards like admiration and praise.

Final Thoughts

This episode of Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day effectively breaks down the complexities of the word "meritorious," offering listeners a comprehensive understanding of its definition, usage, and historical context. By weaving in examples and etymological insights, Peter Sokolowski provides a rich and engaging exploration of vocabulary that is both informative and applicable to everyday language.