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Definition of ernie

ernie

/ˈɜːr.ni/
Er · nie
Plural:ernies
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ernie Lexical Profile

• noun

1

A diminutive of the male given name Ernest.

Example

"Uncle Ernie always told fascinating stories about his time working on the railway."

2

British A hardware random number generator used in the United Kingdom since 1957 to select the winning serial numbers of Premium Bonds.

Example

"Every month, bondholders wait to see if Ernie will select their numbers for a tax-free prize."

• Rhymes for ernie

• Nearby Words

erm
ermine
ernest
ernie
ernst
erode
erogenous

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in 1957 in the United Kingdom as an acronym for Electronic Random Number Indicator Equipment, intentionally matching the diminutive of the male given name Ernest.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Ernie. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/ernie
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