NYT Spelling Bee Answers for September 27, 2026
Today's NYT Spelling Bee uses center letter F with outer letters D, E, I, L, N, U. The puzzle contains 78 words worth 431 points, including 4 pangrams. The longest word is 11 letters. To reach Genius you need 302 points; Queen Bee requires all 431 points. Today is a bingo — every letter starts at least one word. Compared with the eight-year average of about 183 points per puzzle, this is a larger-than-average day.
Game Summary
| Center Letter | F |
|---|---|
| Outer Letters | d, e, i, l, n, u |
| # of Pangrams | 4 (Perfect: 1) |
| Total Words | 78 words |
| Total Points | 431 points |
| Genius Level | 302 points |
| Bingo? | Yes |
Table of Contents
As you scroll down this page, the clues get progressively more revealing. So scroll slowly!
- Spelling Bee Grid
- Two-Letter List (2LL) Hints
- Three-Letter List (3LL) Hints
- Extra Letter Hints (Incrementally Revealing) 🤯
- Today's Complete Solution
- Answer Definitions
If you're just here for a list of NYT Spelling Bee answers, Jump down to the answers ↓ (Spoiler Alert!).
Spelling Bee Grid
The following table shows the standard Spelling Bee summary grid, which lists word lengths across the top and letters down the left-hand side. The cell where the word lengths and letters intersect displays the number of words in today's puzzle with the corresponding first letter and word length.
| 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | Σ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D | 1 | - | 7 | 3 | 2 | - | - | - | 13 |
| E | - | 1 | - | 1 | - | - | - | - | 2 |
| F | 17 | 9 | 12 | 5 | 1 | 1 | - | - | 45 |
| I | - | - | 1 | 2 | 1 | - | - | - | 4 |
| L | 2 | - | 1 | - | 1 | - | - | - | 4 |
| N | - | - | - | 1 | - | 1 | - | - | 2 |
| U | - | 1 | - | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8 | Σ | 20 | 11 | 21 | 14 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 78 |
Two-Letter List (2LL) Hints
The following list shows the number of solution words that begin with the corresponding two letters.
| D | DE×10 DU×3 |
|---|---|
| E | ED×1 EL×1 |
| F | FE×11 FI×16 FL×7 FU×11 |
| I | IN×4 |
| L | LI×2 LU×2 |
| N | NE×1 NU×1 |
| U | UN×8 |
Three-Letter List (3LL) Hints
The following list shows the number of solution words that begin with the corresponding three letters.
| D | DEF×9 DEI×1 DUF×3 |
|---|---|
| E | EDI×1 ELF×1 |
| F | FEE×2 FEL×4 FEN×3 FEU×2 FID×2 FIE×4 FIF×2 FIL×4 FIN×4 FLE×2 FLI×1 FLU×4 FUD×2 FUE×2 FUL×3 FUN×4 |
| I | INF×4 |
| L | LIF×2 LUF×2 |
| N | NEE×1 NUL×1 |
| U | UND×2 UNF×5 UNI×1 |
Extra Letter Hints (Incrementally Revealing)
The table below lists all of the solutions to today's puzzle, but they're concealed. You can click the plus button (+) to reveal additional letters, one-by-one.
Concealed definitions are provided as additional clues. You can toggle concealment of the definitions by clicking on the concealer bar or the text that appears when the definition is visible.
Pangrams are marked with a dagger symbol (†).
| Word | 2L Ref | Definition (click to reveal) |
|---|---|---|
| nu....... † | NU9 | No definition found; request failed |
| un..... † | UN7 | No definition found; request failed |
| un...... † | UN8 | No definition found; request failed |
| un......... † | UN11 | No definition found; request failed |
| de.... | DE6 | To ward off attacks against; to fight to protect; to guard. |
| de...... | DE8 | simple past tense and past participle of defend |
| de.... | DE6 | simple past tense and past participle of defy |
| de.... | DE6 | To make (someone or something) physically dirty or unclean; to befoul, to soil. |
| de..... | DE7 | impure; dirty |
| de.... | DE6 | To determine with precision; to mark out with distinctness; to ascertain or exhibit clearly. |
| de..... | DE7 | Having a definition or value. |
| de.... | DE6 | To cancel funding for. |
| de...... | DE8 | simple past tense and past participle of defund |
| de..... | DE7 | simple past tense and past participle of deify |
| du.. | DU4 | Dough. |
| du.... | DU6 | A kind of coarse woolen cloth, having a thick nap or frieze. |
| du.... | DU6 | Alternative spelling of duffel |
| ed..... | ED7 | simple past tense and past participle of edify |
| el... | EL5 | An elf; an inhabitant of fairy-land. |
| fe.. | FE4 | To give (someone or something) food to eat. |
| fe.. | FE4 | To use or experience the sense of touch. To become aware of through the skin; to use the sense of touch on. |
| fe... | FE5 | Any member of the cat family (Felidae). |
| fe.... | FE6 | Of or pertaining to cats. |
| fe.. | FE4 | To make something fall; especially to chop down a tree. |
| fe.... | FE6 | simple past tense and past participle of fell |
| fe.. | FE4 | To take care of oneself; to take responsibility for one's own well-being. |
| fe.... | FE6 | simple past tense and past participle of fend |
| fe.... | FE6 | A plant, Foeniculum vulgare, of the parsley family, which has a sweet, anise-like flavor. |
| fe.. | FE4 | A state of long-standing mutual hostility. |
| fe.... | FE6 | simple past tense and past participle of feud |
| fi.... | FI6 | Synonym of violin, a small unfretted stringed instrument with four strings tuned (lowest to highest) G-D-A-E, usually held against the chin and played with a bow; the position of a violinist in a band; any stringed instrument, particularly those of the violin family. |
| fi..... | FI7 | simple past tense and past participle of fiddle |
| fi.. | FI4 | An estate held by a person on condition of providing military service to a superior. |
| fi... | FI5 | A land area free of woodland, cities, and towns; an area of open country. |
| fi..... | FI7 | simple past tense and past participle of field |
| fi... | FI5 | A devil or demon; a malignant or diabolical being; an evil spirit. |
| fi.. | FI4 | A small shrill pipe, resembling the piccolo flute, used chiefly to accompany the drum in military music |
| fi... | FI5 | simple past tense and past participle of fife |
| fi.. | FI4 | A collection of papers collated and archived together. |
| fi... | FI5 | simple past tense and past participle of file |
| fi.. | FI4 | To occupy fully, to take up all of. |
| fi.... | FI6 | That is now full. |
| fi.. | FI4 | To locate To encounter or discover by accident; to happen upon. |
| fi.. | FI4 | Senses referring to subjective quality. Of superior quality. |
| fi... | FI5 | simple past tense and past participle of fine |
| fi.... | FI6 | Having fins. |
| fl.. | FL4 | simple past tense and past participle of flee |
| fl.. | FL4 | To run away; to escape. |
| fl... | FL5 | simple past tense and past participle of fly (hit a fly ball) |
| fl.. | FL4 | A pipe or duct that carries gaseous combustion products away from the point of combustion (such as a furnace). |
| fl... | FL5 | Anything light, soft or fuzzy, especially fur, hair, feathers. |
| fl..... | FL7 | simple past tense and past participle of fluff |
| fl... | FL5 | Any substance which can flow with relative ease, tends to assume the shape of its container, and obeys Bernoulli's principle; a liquid, gas or plasma. |
| fu.... | FU6 | To confuse or befuddle. |
| fu..... | FU7 | simple past tense and past participle of fuddle |
| fu.. | FU4 | Substance consumed to provide energy through combustion, or through chemical or nuclear reaction. |
| fu.... | FU6 | simple past tense and past participle of fuel |
| fu..... | FU7 | To satisfy, carry out, bring to completion (an obligation, a requirement, etc.). |
| fu....... | FU9 | simple past and past participle of fulfill or fulfil |
| fu.. | FU4 | Containing the maximum possible amount that can fit in the space available. |
| fu.. | FU4 | A sum or source of money. |
| fu.... | FU6 | simple past tense and past participle of fund |
| fu.... | FU6 | A utensil in the shape of an inverted hollow cone terminating in a narrow pipe, for channeling liquids or granular material; typically used when transferring said substances from any container into ones with a significantly smaller opening. |
| fu...... | FU8 | simple past tense and past participle of funnel |
| in..... | IN7 | Rejecting a specific religion. |
| in..... | IN7 | The area inside a racetrack or running track. |
| in.... | IN6 | To fill in a space, hole or gap. |
| in...... | IN8 | simple past and past participle of infill |
| li.. | LI4 | The state of organisms preceding their death, characterized by biological processes such as metabolism and reproduction and distinguishing them from inanimate objects; the state of being alive and living. |
| li...... | LI8 | A line to which a drowning or falling victim may cling. |
| lu.. | LU4 | The vertical edge of a sail that is closest to the direction of the wind. |
| lu.... | LU6 | No definition found; request failed |
| ne..... | NE7 | Needed; necessary; mandatory; requisite; indispensable. |
| un........ | UN10 | Not defended. |
| un....... | UN9 | Lacking a definition or value. |
| un... | UN5 | Not fed. |
| un...... | UN8 | Not funded; having received no funding. |
| un..... | UN7 | simple past tense and past participle of unify |
Today's Complete Solution
The words that follow are a complete listing of all acceptable words in today's New York Time Spelling Bee puzzle.
Next to the answer word you'll see the two-letter reference (2L Ref) in parentheses. We added that 2L Ref for easier translation of the spoiler-avoidant language you see on the Spelling Bee Forum and Twitter. The 2L Ref signifies a word's two start letters followed by the total number of letters in the word.
- nullified† (NU9)
- unfiled† (UN7)
- unfilled† (UN8)
- unfulfilled† (UN11)
- defend (DE6)
- defended (DE8)
- defied (DE6)
- defile (DE6)
- defiled (DE7)
- define (DE6)
- defined (DE7)
- defund (DE6)
- defunded (DE8)
- deified (DE7)
- duff (DU4)
- duffel (DU6)
- duffle (DU6)
- edified (ED7)
- elfin (EL5)
- feed (FE4)
- feel (FE4)
- felid (FE5)
- feline (FE6)
- fell (FE4)
- felled (FE6)
- fend (FE4)
- fended (FE6)
- fennel (FE6)
- feud (FE4)
- feuded (FE6)
- fiddle (FI6)
- fiddled (FI7)
- fief (FI4)
- field (FI5)
- fielded (FI7)
- fiend (FI5)
- fife (FI4)
- fifed (FI5)
- file (FI4)
- filed (FI5)
- fill (FI4)
- filled (FI6)
- find (FI4)
- fine (FI4)
- fined (FI5)
- finned (FI6)
- fled (FL4)
- flee (FL4)
- flied (FL5)
- flue (FL4)
- fluff (FL5)
- fluffed (FL7)
- fluid (FL5)
- fuddle (FU6)
- fuddled (FU7)
- fuel (FU4)
- fueled (FU6)
- fulfill (FU7)
- fulfilled (FU9)
- full (FU4)
- fund (FU4)
- funded (FU6)
- funnel (FU6)
- funneled (FU8)
- infidel (IN7)
- infield (IN7)
- infill (IN6)
- infilled (IN8)
- life (LI4)
- lifeline (LI8)
- luff (LU4)
- luffed (LU6)
- needful (NE7)
- undefended (UN10)
- undefined (UN9)
- unfed (UN5)
- unfunded (UN8)
- unified (UN7)
Answer Definitions
- nullified† (n/a): No definition found; request failed
- unfiled† (n/a): No definition found; request failed
- unfilled† (n/a): No definition found; request failed
- unfulfilled† (n/a): No definition found; request failed
- defend (verb): To ward off attacks against; to fight to protect; to guard.
- defended (verb): simple past tense and past participle of defend
- defied (verb): simple past tense and past participle of defy
- defile (verb): To make (someone or something) physically dirty or unclean; to befoul, to soil.
- defiled (adjective): impure; dirty
- define (verb): To determine with precision; to mark out with distinctness; to ascertain or exhibit clearly.
- defined (adjective): Having a definition or value.
- defund (verb): To cancel funding for.
- defunded (verb): simple past tense and past participle of defund
- deified (verb): simple past tense and past participle of deify
- duff (noun): Dough.
- duffel (noun): A kind of coarse woolen cloth, having a thick nap or frieze.
- duffle (noun): Alternative spelling of duffel
- edified (verb): simple past tense and past participle of edify
- elfin (noun): An elf; an inhabitant of fairy-land.
- feed (verb): To give (someone or something) food to eat.
- feel (verb): To use or experience the sense of touch. To become aware of through the skin; to use the sense of touch on.
- felid (noun): Any member of the cat family (Felidae).
- feline (adjective): Of or pertaining to cats.
- fell (verb): To make something fall; especially to chop down a tree.
- felled (verb): simple past tense and past participle of fell
- fend (verb): To take care of oneself; to take responsibility for one's own well-being.
- fended (verb): simple past tense and past participle of fend
- fennel (noun): A plant, Foeniculum vulgare, of the parsley family, which has a sweet, anise-like flavor.
- feud (noun): A state of long-standing mutual hostility.
- feuded (verb): simple past tense and past participle of feud
- fiddle (noun): Synonym of violin, a small unfretted stringed instrument with four strings tuned (lowest to highest) G-D-A-E, usually held against the chin and played with a bow; the position of a violinist in a band; any stringed instrument, particularly those of the violin family.
- fiddled (verb): simple past tense and past participle of fiddle
- fief (noun): An estate held by a person on condition of providing military service to a superior.
- field (noun): A land area free of woodland, cities, and towns; an area of open country.
- fielded (verb): simple past tense and past participle of field
- fiend (noun): A devil or demon; a malignant or diabolical being; an evil spirit.
- fife (noun): A small shrill pipe, resembling the piccolo flute, used chiefly to accompany the drum in military music
- fifed (verb): simple past tense and past participle of fife
- file (noun): A collection of papers collated and archived together.
- filed (verb): simple past tense and past participle of file
- fill (verb): To occupy fully, to take up all of.
- filled (adjective): That is now full.
- find (verb): To locate To encounter or discover by accident; to happen upon.
- fine (adjective): Senses referring to subjective quality. Of superior quality.
- fined (verb): simple past tense and past participle of fine
- finned (adjective): Having fins.
- fled (verb): simple past tense and past participle of flee
- flee (verb): To run away; to escape.
- flied (verb): simple past tense and past participle of fly (hit a fly ball)
- flue (noun): A pipe or duct that carries gaseous combustion products away from the point of combustion (such as a furnace).
- fluff (noun): Anything light, soft or fuzzy, especially fur, hair, feathers.
- fluffed (verb): simple past tense and past participle of fluff
- fluid (noun): Any substance which can flow with relative ease, tends to assume the shape of its container, and obeys Bernoulli's principle; a liquid, gas or plasma.
- fuddle (verb): To confuse or befuddle.
- fuddled (verb): simple past tense and past participle of fuddle
- fuel (noun): Substance consumed to provide energy through combustion, or through chemical or nuclear reaction.
- fueled (verb): simple past tense and past participle of fuel
- fulfill (verb): To satisfy, carry out, bring to completion (an obligation, a requirement, etc.).
- fulfilled (verb): simple past and past participle of fulfill or fulfil
- full (adjective): Containing the maximum possible amount that can fit in the space available.
- fund (noun): A sum or source of money.
- funded (verb): simple past tense and past participle of fund
- funnel (noun): A utensil in the shape of an inverted hollow cone terminating in a narrow pipe, for channeling liquids or granular material; typically used when transferring said substances from any container into ones with a significantly smaller opening.
- funneled (verb): simple past tense and past participle of funnel
- infidel (adjective): Rejecting a specific religion.
- infield (noun): The area inside a racetrack or running track.
- infill (verb): To fill in a space, hole or gap.
- infilled (verb): simple past and past participle of infill
- life (noun): The state of organisms preceding their death, characterized by biological processes such as metabolism and reproduction and distinguishing them from inanimate objects; the state of being alive and living.
- lifeline (noun): A line to which a drowning or falling victim may cling.
- luff (noun): The vertical edge of a sail that is closest to the direction of the wind.
- luffed (n/a): No definition found; request failed
- needful (adjective): Needed; necessary; mandatory; requisite; indispensable.
- undefended (adjective): Not defended.
- undefined (adjective): Lacking a definition or value.
- unfed (adjective): Not fed.
- unfunded (adjective): Not funded; having received no funding.
- unified (verb): simple past tense and past participle of unify