5th Grade Spelling Bee Words

Key Takeaways

5th Grade Spelling Bee Words with definitions

Word	Part of Speech	Origin	Definition + Example Sentence
Ballerina	Noun	Italian	A female ballet dancer. The ballerina twirled gracefully across the stage.
Cubism	Noun	French	An art style using geometric shapes. Picasso was a master of cubism.
Interact	Verb	Latin	To communicate or work together. Students interact during group projects.
Jerky	Noun	American English	Dried meat. He packed beef jerky for the hike.
Diablo	Noun	Spanish	The devil or an evil being. The legend spoke of a lurking diablo.
Ablaze	Adjective	Old English	On fire. The campfire was ablaze with bright flames.
Pivot	Verb	French	To turn around a point. He made a quick pivot during the game.
Karate	Noun	Japanese	A martial art. She earned a black belt in karate.
Bowler	Noun	English	A type of hat. He wore a classic bowler to the party.
Phantom	Noun	Greek	A ghost or illusion. The old house was rumored to have a phantom.
Locust	Noun	Latin	A grasshopper-like insect. A swarm of locusts damaged the crops.
Council	Noun	Latin	A group that makes decisions. The student council planned the event.
Ointment	Noun	Latin	A healing cream. She applied ointment to the burn.
Gothic	Adjective	French	A style of architecture. The cathedral had a Gothic design.
Midair	Noun	English	The space above ground. The ball froze in midair before hitting the hoop.
Hurricane	Noun	Spanish	A powerful storm. The hurricane caused massive damage along the coast.
Laurel	Noun	Latin	A type of plant, symbolizing victory. The winner received a laurel wreath.
Lollygag	Verb	American English	To waste time. Stop lollygagging and start your homework!
Vermin	Noun	Latin	Small harmful animals. The barn was infested with vermin.
Argument	Noun	Latin	A disagreement or debate. They had an argument over the best movie.
Wreckage	Noun	Middle English	Remains of something destroyed. The wreckage of the ship was found on the beach.
Dolphin	Noun	Greek	A marine mammal. Dolphins are known for their intelligence.
Infinite	Adjective	Latin	Without end. The universe is said to be infinite.
Bittersweet	Adjective	English	Both happy and sad. Graduation was a bittersweet moment.
Fend	Verb	Old English	To protect oneself. She had to fend off the wild geese.
Disguise	Noun	French	A costume or mask. His disguise fooled everyone at the party.
Membrane	Noun	Latin	A thin layer of tissue. The eardrum is a delicate membrane.
Magnolia	Noun	French	A type of flower. The magnolia tree bloomed beautifully in spring.
Sensation	Noun	Latin	A feeling or perception. The icy water caused a tingling sensation.
Daredevil	Noun	English	A risk-taker. The daredevil performed stunts on his motorcycle.
Bypass	Noun	English	A road that avoids a congested area. The highway bypass made travel faster.
Oysters	Noun	Latin	A type of shellfish. She enjoyed fresh oysters at the seafood restaurant.
Military	Adjective	Latin	Related to the armed forces. Her father served in the military for 20 years.
Gasket	Noun	French	A sealing device in machinery. The engine needed a new gasket.
Biceps	Noun	Latin	A muscle in the arm. He flexed his biceps after working out.
Voyage	Noun	French	A long journey. Their voyage across the ocean took months.
Advantage	Noun	Latin	A beneficial factor. Being bilingual is an advantage in many careers.
Applause	Noun	Latin	Clapping to show approval. The audience gave a standing ovation of applause.
Nostrils	Noun	Old English	Openings in the nose. He flared his nostrils in anger.
Television	Noun	Greek & Latin	A device for viewing broadcasts. We watched the news on television.
Mattress	Noun	Arabic	A cushioned bed surface. The mattress was soft and comfortable.
Soldier	Noun	Latin	A member of the military. The soldier marched in perfect formation.
Trousers	Noun	French	Pants. His trousers were neatly pressed for the event.
Albums	Noun	Latin	A collection of music or photos. She bought three new albums from her favorite band.
Muscles	Noun	Latin	Tissues that help movement. Strong muscles help with endurance.
Diploma	Noun	Greek	A graduation certificate. She proudly held her diploma at the ceremony.
Harpoons	Noun	French	Spears used for hunting fish. Whalers once used harpoons to catch whales.
Rampage	Noun	Old Norse	A violent, uncontrolled action. The bull went on a rampage through the streets.
Levitate	Verb	Latin	To rise in the air. The magician appeared to levitate above the stage.
Spritzed	Verb	German	Sprayed lightly with liquid. She spritzed perfume on her wrist before leaving.

What Makes 5th Grade Spelling Bee Words Unique?

By 5th grade, Spelling Bee words become more complex. Contestants must spell longer words, words with silent letters, and those with tricky vowel combinations.

Study Tips for 5th Grade Spelling Bee Words

Commonly Misspelled 5th Grade Words

Even strong spellers trip up on tricky words. Here are some of the most commonly misspelled words in 5th-grade spelling bees:

Word	Mistake People Make	Trick to Remember
Separate	Seperate	There's 'A RAT' in 'separate'
Necessary	Neccessary	One C, two S’s
Definitely	Definately	No 'A' in 'Definitely'!
Embarrass	Embarass	Double R, double S

For more tricky words, see Commonly Misspelled Words.

Hard 5th Grade Spelling Bee Words

If you're aiming for the top, you need to practice harder words. Here are some tough 5th-grade words:

Word	Meaning
Connoisseur	An expert in taste or art
Nomenclature	A system of naming things
Persnickety	Fussy or difficult to please
Soliloquy	A speech given alone on stage
Unanimous	Fully in agreement

Find more in Hard Spelling Bee Words.

Fun Ways to Practice 5th Grade Spelling Bee Words

7. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Final Thoughts

Spelling Bees challenge 5th graders to improve vocabulary, memory, and confidence. The best way to prepare? Practice daily, learn word patterns, and use fun spelling games.