fulcrum
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day
Merriam-Webster
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🗓️ 12 July 2026
⏱️ 2 minutes
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Summary
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 12, 2026 is:
fulcrum • \FULL-krum\ • noun
In technical use, fulcrum refers to the support on which a lever moves when it is used to lift something. In figurative use, fulcrum refers to a person or thing that makes it possible for something to function or develop, or in other words, one who plays an essential role in something.
// Although the lead actor was phenomenal, critics suggested that the supporting cast was the real fulcrum of the show.
Examples:
“The moral fulcrum of Christopher Marlowe’s The Tragical History of the Life and Death of Doctor Faustus, in which a scholar gains knowledge and power through a demonic pact, is a relatively straightforward statement on the human condition.” — Eric Olson, Literary Hub, 14 Jan. 2026
Did you know?
The Latin word fulcrum, which refers to the head or back support of a couch, comes from the verb fulcīre, which means “to prop, support.” When fulcrum was first used in English in the 17th century, it referred to the point on which a lever or similar device (such as the oar of a boat) is supported. The literal use easily supported figurative use, and it didn’t take long for the word to develop a meaning referring to one deemed essential to the function or development of something. Despite fulcrum’s multiple senses, the word's meanings have kept a steady theme. In zoology, fulcrum refers to a part of an animal that serves as a hinge or support, such as the joint supporting a bird’s wing.
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | It's Merriam Webster's Word of the Day for July 12th. |
| 0:10.0 | Today's word is fulcrum, also pronounced fulcrum, and spelled Fulcrum, |
| 0:18.0 | fulcrum is a noun. In technical use, it refers to the support on which a lever moves |
| 0:24.8 | when it is used to lift something. In figurative use, fulcrum refers to a person or thing |
| 0:31.8 | that makes it possible for something to function or develop, or, in other words, one who plays |
| 0:37.4 | an essential role in something. |
| 0:39.3 | Here's the word used in a sentence from literary hub. |
| 0:43.3 | The moral fulcrum of Christopher Marlowe's The Tragical History of the Life and Death of Dr. Faustus, |
| 0:49.3 | in which a scholar gains knowledge and power through a demonic pact is a relatively straightforward |
| 0:56.3 | statement on the human condition. The Latin word fulcrum, which refers to the head or back |
| 1:03.6 | support of a couch, comes from the verb fulchire, which means to prop or support. When fulcrum was used in English in the 17th century for the first |
| 1:14.7 | time, it referred to the point on which a lever or similar device, such as the oar of a boat, is |
| 1:21.3 | supported. The literal use, easily supported figurative use, and it didn't take long for the word to develop a meaning |
| 1:29.3 | referring to one deemed essential to the function or development of something. Despite |
| 1:35.3 | Fulcrum's multiple senses, the words' meanings have kept a steady theme. In zoology, Fulcrum refers to |
| 1:42.9 | a part of an animal that serves as a hinge or support, |
| 1:47.0 | such as the joint supporting a bird's wing. With your word of the day, I'm Peter Sokolowski. |
| 1:56.8 | Visit marianwebster.com today for definitions, wordplay, and trending word lookups. |
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