An online dictionary is a

dictionary A dictionary is a listing of lexemes from the lexicon of one or more specific languages, often arranged alphabetically (or by radical and stroke for ideographic languages), which may include information on definitions, usage, etymologie ...

that is accessible via the

Internet The Internet (or internet) is the global system of interconnected computer networks that uses the Internet protocol suite (TCP/IP) to communicate between networks and devices. It is a '' network of networks'' that consists of private, p ...

through a

web browser A web browser is application software for accessing websites. When a user requests a web page from a particular website, the browser retrieves its files from a web server and then displays the page on the user's screen. Browsers are used o ...

. They can be made available in a number of ways: free, free with a paid subscription for extended or more professional content, or a paid-only service. Many dictionaries have been digitized from their print versions and are available at online libraries. Some online dictionaries are organized as lists of words, similar to a

glossary A glossary (from grc, γλῶσσα, ''glossa''; language, speech, wording) also known as a vocabulary or clavis, is an alphabetical list of terms in a particular domain of knowledge with the definitions for those terms. Traditionally, a gl ...

, while others offer search features, reverse lookups, and additional language tools and content such as verb conjugations, grammar references, and discussion forums. The variety of online dictionaries for specialized topics is enormous, covering a wide range of fields such as computing, business and investing, along with almost any other class of trade, science, art, or common interest with its own terminology.

Selected online dictionaries

The following is a concise list of online English dictionaries whose definitions are based upon well-established content. *

American Heritage Dictionary American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, p ...

''American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Ed.'' * Collins Online Dictionary ''Collins Unabridged English Dictionary; Collins Unabridged Thesaurus; Collins Webster's American English Dictionary'' * Dictionary.com ''Dictionary.com Unabridged'', based on the ''

Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary ''Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary'' is a large American dictionary, first published in 1966 as ''The Random House Dictionary of the English Language: The Unabridged Edition''. Edited by Editor-in-chief Jess Stein, it contained 315, ...

'' * Merriam-Webster Online ''Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary'' *

Oxford Dictionaries Online Lexico was a dictionary website that provided a collection of English and Spanish dictionaries produced by Oxford University Press (OUP), the publishing house of the University of Oxford. While the dictionary content on Lexico came from OUP, ...

''Oxford Dictionary of English; New Oxford American Dictionary; Oxford Thesaurus of English; Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus''

Advanced learner's dictionaries

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary The ''Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary'' (''OALD'') was the first advanced learner's dictionary of English. It was first published in 1948. It is the largest English-language dictionary from Oxford University Press aimed at a non-native au ...

''Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary'' * Cambridge Dictionaries Online ''Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary'' *

Longman Longman, also known as Pearson Longman, is a publishing company founded in London, England, in 1724 and is owned by Pearson PLC. Since 1968, Longman has been used primarily as an imprint by Pearson's Schools business. The Longman brand is also ...

''Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English'' *

Macmillan MacMillan, Macmillan, McMillen or McMillan may refer to: People * McMillan (surname) * Clan MacMillan, a Highland Scottish clan * Harold Macmillan, British statesman and politician * James MacMillan, Scottish composer * William Duncan MacMillan ...

''Macmillan English Dictionary for Advanced Learners''

Other examples

Multilingual

English language

Other specific languages

References

External links

*
OneLook
– meta-search of numerous online dictionaries at once {{DEFAULTSORT:List of Online Dictionaries

Dictionaries A dictionary is a listing of lexemes from the lexicon of one or more specific languages, often arranged alphabetically (or by radical and stroke for ideographic languages), which may include information on definitions, usage, etymologies, ...

Dictionaries, online