The National Spelling Bee is an annual competition in the United States where students from various schools compete to spell words correctly. It typically involves participants from grades 1 to 8, who advance through local and regional bees to reach the national level. The event is held in Washington, D.C. and is broadcast on television, attracting a large audience. Participants are given a word to spell, and they can ask for definitions, language of origin, and use it in a sentence. The competition emphasizes not only spelling but also vocabulary and language skills, making it a prestigious event in the academic calendar.