About this episode
This episode discusses the word 'MacGyver' and its meaning related to innovative problem-solving.
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 7, 2026 is: MacGyver • \muh-GHYE-ver\ • verb To MacGyver something is to make, form, or repair it with materials that are conveniently on hand. // Social media websites are full of videos that show people MacGyvering everything from a life jacket out of a pair of pants to a stove using three metal cans and some dirt. See the entry > Examples: “Maybe your shovel broke the first time you tried to clear wet, heavy snow off your sidewalk and you never replaced it. ... Of course, before you start MacGyvering a shovel from spare parts in your garage, you can ask a neighbor for assistance or make a few phone calls and pay for a service to clear your driveway or sidewalks.” — Caroline Anschutz, SlashGear.com , 28 Jan. 2026 Did you know? Angus MacGyver, as portrayed by actor Richard Dean Anderson in the titular, action-packed television series MacGyver , was many things—including a secret agent, a Swiss Army knife enthusiast, and a convert to vegetarianism—but he was no MacGuffin (a character that keeps the plot in motion despite lacking intrinsic importance). In fact, so memorable was this man, his mullet, and his ability to…
People in this episode
Host: Merriam-Webster
Topics covered
- language
- verb usage
- pop culture
- innovation
- problem-solving
Keywords
- MacGyver
- verb
- innovation
- problem-solving
- pop culture
- Richard Dean Anderson
- language
Mentioned in this episode
Books & works: MacGyver
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