Wikipedia
/ˌwɪk.iˈpiː.di.ə/noun
A free online encyclopedia that anyone can edit.
Did you know?The name was coined by combining Hawaiian wiki- (“quick”) with encyclopedia, so the platform’s identity is literally about fast, collective knowledge rather than hidden occult power.
Etymological Timeline
1995
Hawaiian/English
wiki + encyclopedia
“A coined blend meaning a fast, collaborative encyclopedia”
2001
English
Wikipedia
“The name adopted for the online, crowd-edited encyclopedia”
Modern English
English
Wikipedia
“A free online encyclopedia written and edited by volunteers”
Hawaiian
Hawaiian
wiki
“Quick; fast”