Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day: "Subterfuge"
Episode Date: April 11, 2026
Host: Peter Sokolowski
Episode Overview
This episode explores the word “subterfuge,” providing listeners with its definition, pronunciation, etymology, notable usage in literature, and related words. The episode maintains Merriam-Webster’s signature educational yet approachable tone, designed to expand listeners’ vocabulary and deepen their understanding of language.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Definition and Pronunciation
- Timestamp [00:42]
- “Today's word is subterfuge. Spelled S U B T E R F U G E. Subterfuge is a noun. It’s a formal word that refers to the use of tricks to hide, avoid or get something.”
- Host: Peter Sokolowski
- “Today's word is subterfuge. Spelled S U B T E R F U G E. Subterfuge is a noun. It’s a formal word that refers to the use of tricks to hide, avoid or get something.”
2. Literary Example
- Timestamp [00:58]
- The host cites a sentence from Margaret Atwood in the New Yorker to illustrate the word in context:
- “She certainly had the cold eye that Yeats recommended for writers, and she saw through subterfuge no matter who was trying it on.”
- This highlights subterfuge as something perceptive people can detect, associating it with clever deception.
- The host cites a sentence from Margaret Atwood in the New Yorker to illustrate the word in context:
3. Synonyms and Nuance
- Timestamp [01:14]
- “Though the word subterfuge is a synonym of deception, fraud, double dealing, and trickery, there’s nothing tricky about the word’s etymology.”
- The host positions subterfuge among similar words but notes the straightforwardness of its linguistic heritage.
- “Though the word subterfuge is a synonym of deception, fraud, double dealing, and trickery, there’s nothing tricky about the word’s etymology.”
4. Etymology and Word Family
- Timestamp [01:21]
- “English borrowed the word with its meaning from the late Latin noun subterfugium, which in turn comes from the Latin verb subterfugere, meaning to escape or evade. That word combines the prefix subter, meaning secretly, from the adverb subter, meaning underneath, with the verb fugere, which means to flee and which is also the source of words such as fugitive and refuge, among others.”
- The explanation connects subterfuge to familiar words, making its roots memorable and meaningful.
- “English borrowed the word with its meaning from the late Latin noun subterfugium, which in turn comes from the Latin verb subterfugere, meaning to escape or evade. That word combines the prefix subter, meaning secretly, from the adverb subter, meaning underneath, with the verb fugere, which means to flee and which is also the source of words such as fugitive and refuge, among others.”
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- On subterfuge’s usage in literature:
- “She saw through subterfuge no matter who was trying it on.”
— Margaret Atwood, as cited by Peter Sokolowski [00:58]
- “She saw through subterfuge no matter who was trying it on.”
- On the word’s etymology:
- “There’s nothing tricky about the word’s etymology.”
— Peter Sokolowski [01:14]
- “There’s nothing tricky about the word’s etymology.”
Important Timestamps
- [00:42] - Introduction and spelling of the word "subterfuge"
- [00:58] - Literary example from the New Yorker by Margaret Atwood
- [01:14] - Discussion of synonyms and the straightforward etymology
- [01:21] - Detailed breakdown of Latin roots and related English words
Tone and Takeaway
The episode’s tone remains factual, concise, and warm—typical of the Merriam-Webster “Word of the Day” format. Peter Sokolowski delivers clear explanations and connects the word with both highbrow literature and everyday language development.
With your word of the day, I'm Peter Sokolowski.