Yes. ZAX is a valid word.
ZAX is valid in the North American word list used for the Scrabble board game and other crossword tile games.
ZAX is in the NASPA Word List 2023 (NWL2023), the North American list that Tileside uses for challenges and the one used in club and tournament play.
About ZAX
ZAX is a hatchet-like tool for cutting and punching roofing slates, also spelled SAX; its plural is ZAXES. ZAX is a rare word that carries both the 10-point Z and the 8-point X, so it is worth 19 points before any bonus, and much more on a letter or word bonus square. Roofers still use a slate ax like this to trim and punch nail holes in slate tiles. It is one of the highest-scoring three-letter words in the whole list. Only one Z and one X come in the bag, so the word uses both of the rarest letters at once.
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ZAX scores 19 points
Before any bonus squares: Z 10 + A 1 + X 8 = 19. On a double-word square that's 38, on a triple-word 57, and every letter bonus under one of these tiles is applied first.
Example: ZAX as the first play
Later in the game, put the Z on a 3L square and ZAX is worth 39 before any word bonus.
Longer words from ZAX
Other forms of ZAX (1):
Change one tile
Swap any one letter of ZAX and these are still words:
- FAXto transmit and reproduce by electronic means
- LAXa vowel articulated with relatively relaxed muscles; not strict or stringent
- MAXto reach the upper limit
- PAXa ceremonial embrace given to signify Christian love and unity
- RAXto stretch out
- SAXa saxophone
- TAXto place a charge imposed by authority for public purposes on
- VAXto vaccinate
Same letters, other words
No other word in the list uses exactly the letters Z, A and X.
Memory tip
ZAX is a tool for cutting roof slates, also spelled SAX. Both Z and X in one word: 19 points before bonuses.
On these lists
Check words at the table, free
Tileside keeps score, checks words like this one during a challenge, tracks the tiles left in the bag and times turns. It runs in your phone's browser with no account and works offline.
Tileside checks words against the North American list, the NASPA Word List 2023. Your group's chosen dictionary always wins.
Word list: NASPA Word List 2023, used under license. NASPA Word List 2023 Edition © NASPA 2023. The copy included in this app is licensed for personal use. You may not use it for any commercial purposes.
Works with the Scrabble board game, played at the table. Tileside is an independent product, not affiliated with or endorsed by the makers of Scrabble.