The 19th Scripps National Spelling Bee was held in Washington, District of Columbia on May 24, 1946, sponsored by the E.W.

There had been no National Spelling Bee since 1942 due to World War II.

The winner was 13-year-old John McKinney of Woodbine, Iowa, correctly spelling flaccid, followed by semaphore.

Mary McCarthy of New York placed second, missing flaccid, followed by Leslie Dean, 12, of New Jersey in third.

10-year-old Jay Noble of Staten Island, New York placed fourth.