“BONY” is a valid word in Scrabble. The four-letter adjective means “having bones, especially many or prominent ones,” or “very thin.” It is accepted for play in both major competitive Scrabble lexicons, allowing players to use it to score points.
Validity and Point Value in Official Dictionaries
The word “BONY” is recognized as valid for tournament and club play globally, though the specific dictionary used depends on the region. North American play utilizes the Official Tournament and Club Word List (OTCWL), while international play, including the UK and Australia, uses the Collins Scrabble Words (CSW) lexicon. Both of these official word lists include “BONY” as an acceptable play.
The standard point value for the word, before any board bonuses are applied, is nine points. This score is determined by the fixed value of each of the four tiles: the ‘B’ tile is worth three points, the ‘O’ and ‘N’ tiles are each worth one point, and the ‘Y’ tile carries a value of four points. Calculating this basic score is important for strategic placement, as a single play of “BONY” on a triple-word score space, for example, would yield 27 points.
This four-letter word is universally included across major governing bodies, despite the two lexicons having some differences. Players should always consult the specific word source approved for their particular game or tournament to confirm validity.
Related Word Forms and Expansions
Strategic Scrabble play often involves extending the base word “BONY” to create longer, higher-scoring words. One common valid variation is the alternative spelling, “BONEY,” which also means “thin” and is accepted in both major lexicons. “BONEY” scores ten points, one point higher than “BONY,” because the ‘E’ tile adds one point to the total.
Players can also extend “BONY” by adding comparative and superlative suffixes. The word “BONIER,” meaning more bony, is a valid five-letter extension that can be played. Similarly, the six-letter superlative form, “BONIEST,” meaning most bony, is also valid for play. These extensions are common for adjectives ending in ‘Y’ and provide higher point potential by covering more squares on the board.
The adverb form, “BONILY,” is another valid extension accepted in competitive play. Identifying these related forms is a valuable skill, as they allow players to capitalize on existing letters on the board. Utilizing these expansions helps players maximize their score and avoid having their plays challenged.