spelling bee
noun
: a spelling contest in which contestants are eliminated as soon as they misspell a word
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web When preseason camp opens today, Napier’s first Florida team will play musical chairs, receive a geography lesson and even engage in a spelling bee. 
Edgar Thompson, Orlando Sentinel, 4 Aug. 2022 Although the spelling bee has traditionally been hosted by officials from the E.W. Scripps company and organizers of the bee, producers decided to hire Burton as their first celebrity headliner. Dawn Ennis, Forbes, 3 June 2022 Braydon has made an impression so far at the spelling bee. Paul Gattis | Pgattis@al.com, al, 1 June 2022 The Empress’s weekly online column discusses each new contest and set of results; this week, some spelling bee poems from earlier years. Pat Myers, Washington Post, 23 June 2022 The annual spelling bee -- which features elementary and middle school students spelling words that would cause most adults to stumble -- has had a tumultuous few years. Leah Asmelash, CNN, 2 June 2022 The spelling bee can also be streamed on ION Plus or Bounce XL. Paul Gattis | Pgattis@al.com, al, 2 June 2022 Nearly 150 years later, readers can still find spelling bee coverage in The Times. New York Times, 2 June 2022 Redux: Show off your wordplay in a spelling bee-style competition where the winner is determined by audience applause and a panel of judges including comedians Plucky Rosenthal and Jessica Mance. Samantha Nelson, Chicago Tribune, 27 May 2022 See More
Edgar Thompson, Orlando Sentinel, 4 Aug. 2022 Although the spelling bee has traditionally been hosted by officials from the E.W. Scripps company and organizers of the bee, producers decided to hire Burton as their first celebrity headliner. Dawn Ennis, Forbes, 3 June 2022 Braydon has made an impression so far at the spelling bee. Paul Gattis | Pgattis@al.com, al, 1 June 2022 The Empress’s weekly online column discusses each new contest and set of results; this week, some spelling bee poems from earlier years. Pat Myers, Washington Post, 23 June 2022 The annual spelling bee -- which features elementary and middle school students spelling words that would cause most adults to stumble -- has had a tumultuous few years. Leah Asmelash, CNN, 2 June 2022 The spelling bee can also be streamed on ION Plus or Bounce XL. Paul Gattis | Pgattis@al.com, al, 2 June 2022 Nearly 150 years later, readers can still find spelling bee coverage in The Times. New York Times, 2 June 2022 Redux: Show off your wordplay in a spelling bee-style competition where the winner is determined by audience applause and a panel of judges including comedians Plucky Rosenthal and Jessica Mance. Samantha Nelson, Chicago Tribune, 27 May 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
1850, in the meaning defined above