a-j-a-x
AJAX has multiple meanings: (1) A legendary Greek hero from the Trojan War, known for his strength and size. (2) In technology, Asynchronous JavaScript and XML, a web development technique for creating interactive applications. (3) A Dutch football club, AFC Ajax. (4) A popular brand of cleaning products. This versatile four-letter word is particularly valuable in word games due to its high-scoring letters J (8 points) and X (8 points).
18
Points in Scrabble
Base tile values • No multipliers applied
The word AJAX has evolved to encompass several distinct meanings across different domains. In classical mythology, Ajax refers to two different Greek heroes from the Trojan War - Ajax the Great (son of Telamon) and Ajax the Lesser (son of Oileus). The more famous Ajax the Great was known as the "bulwark of the Achaeans," renowned for his colossal strength and defensive prowess.
In modern technology, AJAX stands for Asynchronous JavaScript and XML, a revolutionary web development technique introduced in the early 2000s. This methodology allows web pages to update content dynamically without requiring a full page reload, creating more responsive and interactive user experiences. Despite its name, modern AJAX implementations often use JSON instead of XML for data exchange.
The word also represents AFC Ajax, the renowned Dutch football club from Amsterdam, founded in 1900 and named after the mythological hero. Additionally, Ajax is a globally recognized brand of household cleaning products, first introduced in 1947, known for its powerful cleaning formulas.
The name Ajax derives from the ancient Greek "Αἴας" (Aias), possibly meaning "earth" or "mourner." The Greek name may be related to "αἰάζω" (aiazō), meaning "to cry out" or "to wail." In Homer's Iliad, Ajax is portrayed as a towering warrior second only to Achilles in martial prowess.
The technological term AJAX was coined by Jesse James Garrett in 2005, combining the initials of the underlying technologies. The cleaning product Ajax, introduced by Colgate-Palmolive, was named after the Greek hero to convey strength and effectiveness, with the slogan "Stronger than dirt!"
The football club AFC Ajax adopted the name in 1900, reflecting Amsterdam's classical education tradition and the desire to embody the strength and nobility of the ancient hero.
Ajax appears prominently in Greek literature, particularly in Homer's Iliad and Sophocles' tragedy "Ajax." His story of honor, madness, and tragic death has influenced Western literature for millennia, inspiring countless adaptations and references.
AFC Ajax has become one of football's most successful clubs, pioneering "Total Football" and producing legendary players like Johan Cruyff. Their youth academy, De Toekomst, is world-renowned for developing talent.
AJAX technology fundamentally changed web development, enabling applications like Gmail, Google Maps, and social media platforms. It marked the transition from static web pages to dynamic, app-like experiences.
Today's web applications use AJAX for features like auto-complete search, infinite scrolling, real-time notifications, and live content updates without page refreshes.
•With J (8 points) and X (8 points), AJAX is one of the highest-scoring 4-letter words in Scrabble, worth 18 base points
•Ajax's shield in Greek mythology was so large it was called a "tower shield" and became his identifying symbol in ancient art
•The Ajax football club has won the European Cup/Champions League four times and produced three Ballon d'Or winners
•Google's Gmail was one of the first major applications to extensively use AJAX, revolutionizing web-based email in 2004
"The developer implemented AJAX to create a seamless user experience without page reloads."
— Technology context
"Ajax stood as the bulwark of the Greeks, his tower shield protecting the entire flank."
— Mythological context
"Playing AJAX on a triple word score with the J on a double letter earned me 120 points!"
— Word game context
"The Ajax youth academy has produced another generation of world-class talent."
— Sports context
Similar length and difficulty words
Total base points: 18 (Scrabble)
Vowels: 2 (A, A) | Consonants: 2 (J, X)
Letter rarity: Contains two of the five highest-value tiles in Scrabble
Pattern: VCVC (Vowel-Consonant-Vowel-Consonant)
Practice unscrambling letters to find more high-scoring words like AJAX