Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 16, 2026 is bibelot. A bibelot is defined as a small household ornament or decorative object. These are often small, collectible items like ceramic figurines or tiny glass sculptures. The word is used to describe various small trinkets and baubles. One example illustrates their sale at a flea market alongside bric-a-brac. Another example mentions beads, charms, and bibelots being placed in a new store. The English language has many synonyms for trinket, such as gewgaw, gimcrack, and knickknack. Lady Charlotte Guest is credited with the first known use of bibelot in English. She first encountered and recorded the French word in 1873 while in Paris. She used it to refer to her collection of small ornamental objects.