interjection

[in-ter-jek-shuhn]

noun

1. the act of interjecting.

2. something interjected, as a remark.

3. the utterance of a word or phrase expressive of emotion; the uttering of an exclamation.

4. Grammar.

   1. any member of a class of words expressing emotion, distinguished in most languages by their use in grammatical isolation, as Hey! Oh! Ouch! Ugh!

   2. any other word or expression so used, as Good grief! Indeed!

interjection

/ ˌɪntəˈdʒɛkʃən /

noun

1. a word or remark expressing emotion; exclamation

2. the act of interjecting

3. interj.. a word or phrase that is characteristically used in syntactic isolation and that usually expresses sudden emotion; expletive

interjection

1. A brief exclamation, often containing only one word: “Oh!” “Gee!” “Good grief!” “Ouch!”

Other Word Forms

• interjectional adjective
• interjectionally adverb
• interjectural adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of interjection¹

1400–50; late Middle English interjeccio ( u ) n < Latin interjectiōn- (stem of interjectiō ). See interject, -ion

Example Sentences

Chase and Ibarra may, for instance, begin a dialogue as nervous chit-chat with staccato flute interjections with drummed responses that soon turn to broad expressions of wonder.

From Los Angeles Times

Barring any interjections from the weather it would be a minor miracle if this contest now stretches through until Saturday.

From BBC

After the 11-term Democrat's third interjection and prior warnings to maintain decorum, House Speaker Mike Johnson ordered the sergeant-at-arms to remove Green from the chamber.

From Salon

He says it's difficult for comedians in Kay's situation to hear what audience members are actually saying, and that their interjections are also distracting for others watching in different parts of the arena.

From BBC

But some prospective jurors revealed sensitive information on their own, without any interjection from the judge.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• cry 
• exclamation 
• expletive 
• insertion 
• interpolation 
• interposition 
• shout 

When To Use

What does interjection mean?

An interjection is a word or phrase that expresses something in a sudden or exclamatory way, especially an emotion. Yikes, uh-oh, ugh, oh boy, and ouch are common examples of interjections.In grammar, interjections are considered one of the parts of speech (types of words categorized by function, like nouns and verbs and adjectives).Interjection is the noun form of the verb interject, which most commonly means to interrupt or insert a comment. Interjection can also be used to mean the act or instance of doing so, as in Can I make an interjection?Example: There was a chorus of angry interjections when the people in the audience heard that their taxes would be going up.