diff --git a/config/_default/params.toml b/config/_default/params.toml
index 4d693ddb..6d015244 100644
--- a/config/_default/params.toml
+++ b/config/_default/params.toml
@@ -29,8 +29,8 @@ colorScheme = "congo"
   showHeadingAnchors = true
   showPagination = true
   showReadingTime = true
+  showWordCount = false
   # sharingLinks = ["facebook", "twitter", "pinterest", "reddit", "linkedin", "email"]
-  showWordCount = true
 
 [list]
   showBreadcrumbs = false
diff --git a/layouts/partials/article-meta.html b/layouts/partials/article-meta.html
index c0e2a8f3..ea87e653 100644
--- a/layouts/partials/article-meta.html
+++ b/layouts/partials/article-meta.html
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
     {{ $meta.Add "partials" (slice (partial "meta/date.html" .)) }}
   {{ end }}
 
-  {{ if and (.Params.showWordCount | default (.Site.Params.article.showWordCount | default true)) (ne .WordCount 0) }}
+  {{ if and (.Params.showWordCount | default (.Site.Params.article.showWordCount | default false)) (ne .WordCount 0) }}
     {{ $meta.Add "partials" (slice (partial "meta/word-count.html" .)) }}
   {{ end }}