The word bee, as used in spelling bee, is one of those language puzzles that has never been satisfactorily accounted for. A fairly old and widely-used word, it refers to a community social gathering at which friends and neighbors join together in a single activity (sewing, quilting, barn raising, etc.) usually to help one person or family.

The Past Two Decades by the Numbers:

We are the nation\'s largest and longest-running educational promotion, administered on a not-for-profit basis by The E.W. Scripps Company and local spelling bee sponsors in the United States, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Department of Defense Schools in Europe; also, the Bahamas, Canada, Ghana, Jamaica, Japan and South Korea.

While we have endeavored to ensure the accuracy of information presented in this site, the Scripps National Spelling Bee is not liable for any errors or omissions or for updating the information.

Please note, the information in this site is subject to change without notice.

The Privacy Policy was modified on December 7, 2012, and became effective August 9, 2007.

The User Agreement was modified on December 7, 2012, and became effective August 9, 2007.

PLEASE NOTE THAT OUR PRIVACY POLICY has changed effective December 7, 2012.

Welcome to www.spellingbee.com ("Website"), an interactive online service operated by The E.W. Scripps Company and/or its subsidiaries ("us", "we", or "our").

1. INTRODUCTION AND ACCEPTANCE

Welcome to www.spellingbee.com ("Website"), an interactive online service operated by The E.W. Scripps Company and/or its subsidiaries ("Company," "us," "we," or "our").