This clue appeared in the NYT Crossword on Wednesday, February 18, 2026 (58 Down). The answer is hidden below until you want it. Wednesday sits mid-week in difficulty, with more wordplay than Monday or Tuesday.
Answer length: 4 squares
First letter
I _ _ _
First and last letters
I _ _ S
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About the answer
IRIS as a word: (anatomy) The contractile membrane perforated by the pupil, which adjusts to control the amount of light reaching the retina, and which forms the colored por...; (botany) A plant of the genus Iris, common in the northern hemisphere, and generally having attractive blooms (See Iris (plant) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia).
IRIS has been an answer 10 times in the NYT Crossword and Mini since November 10, 2025.
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