z

1 of 4

noun (1)

ˈzē 

Canadian, British, and Australian

ˈzed 

chiefly dialectal

ˈi-zərd 

plural z's or zs

often capitalized, often attributive

1

a

: the 26th and last letter of the English alphabet

b

: a graphic representation of this letter

c

: a speech counterpart of orthographic z

2

: a graphic device for reproducing the letter z

3

: one designated z especially as the 26th in order or class or the third in order or class when x is made the first

4

: something shaped like the letter Z

5

: wink sense 1

—usually used in plural

catch some z's before dinner

z

2 of 4

abbreviation (1)

1

zero

2

zone

Z

3 of 4

noun (2)

: z particle

Z

4 of 4

abbreviation (2)

variants or ZD

zenith distance

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• bed
• catnapping
• dozing
• napping
• repose
• rest
• resting
• shut-eye
• sleep
• slumber
• slumbering
• snoozing

Examples of z in a Sentence

Noun (1)

a word that begins with a z

a word that begins with z

Word History

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun (2)

1967, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing z

• z-axis
• z-coordinate
• z distribution
• z-score
• z-test

Kids Definition

z

noun

ˈzē,

 British & Canadian  ˈzed

plural z's or zs

often capitalized

1

: the 26th and last letter of the English alphabet

2

: a brief nap

catch some z's before dinner

Medical Definition

Z

symbol

1

atomic number

2

impedance