Quick Answer
Clue: “Company whose logo has a bite taken out of it”
Answer: APPLE
Answer length: 5 letters
Clue number and direction: 3-Down
The New York Times crossword clue “Company whose logo has a bite taken out of it” is answered with APPLE, filling all five squares of 3-Down.
Why APPLE Is the Right NYT Answer
- Apple’s famous logo is an apple with a bite missing from one side, which the clue describes almost literally. Down-answer lists and NYT Mini helpers for January 23, 2026 all confirm APPLE as the 5-letter solution for 3-Down.
- No other major tech or consumer brand has a widely recognized bitten-fruit logo, so once you see the “bite” reference, APPLE is the obvious and unique fit for this clue and letter count.
What APPLE Means in Plain English
- Here, APPLE refers to Apple Inc., the technology company behind the iPhone, Mac, iPad, and other devices, not the fruit itself.
- The brand is strongly associated with its minimalist apple logo with a bite removed, often seen on devices and advertising worldwide.
- Because Apple is such a familiar name, it appears frequently in modern crosswords, especially when editors want a pop-culture or tech-flavored clue.
Crossword-Specific Help for APPLE
In this Mini, APPLE appears as A P P L E at 3-Down, crossing several across entries, including GRAFT, REPLY, AMPUP, NOLTE, and DWEEB.
You might see partial patterns like A_PLE, AP_LE, or _PPLE from crossings; each pattern strongly points to APPLE when combined with the logo hint.
APPLE is also a very common 5-letter answer in crosswords for other clue styles such as “MacBook maker,” “iPhone company,” or “Big name in tech,” so it is worth remembering as a staple entry.
Solving Tips for Similar NYT Clues
- Any clue that mentions iPhones, Macs, iOS, Silicon Valley, or a bitten logo should put APPLE at the top of your candidate list for a 5-letter slot.
- For logo-based clues, focus on iconic visual details here, “a bite taken out of it” is the key phrase that distinguishes Apple’s mark from other brands.
Use crossings: once you have A_PLE or _PPLE in the grid and a tech-logo clue, APPLE becomes almost guaranteed.
