A dictionary, also called a lexicon, is an alphabetized collection of words and their meanings. Various dictionaries have successfully cataloged the evolution of the English language over the centuries, providing insight into English definitions and pronunciations, as well as helpful information about word usage and history. Six dictionaries in particular stand out as the most helpful, informative reference books for the English language.
The Merriam Webster Dictionary
The Merriam Webster Dictionary is one of the best known dictionaries in America. Published in Massachusetts, this centuries-old reference book provides usage examples and a phonetic guide. Many modern consumers make use of Merriam Webster’s free dictionary online. The company also provides an online thesaurus, as well as online dictionaries of synonyms, medical terms, sports terms, and many other helpful resources.
The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language
The first edition of this dictionary, published by Houghton Mifflin in 1969, makes notable use of photographs to illustrate its contents. Since its original printing, three more editions have been published, with the arrival of a fifth edition anticipated in November 2011. As the name suggests, the American Heritage Dictionary celebrates the English language by spotlighting the historical evolution of American words. This dictionary is not available online, but software may be purchased which allows consumers to view the dictionary’s contents on a computer.
Collins English Dictionary
The unabridged version of this dictionary contains over 500,000 words and 6,000 pieces of biographical information. Sentence usage examples are provided, as are cultural explanations. An online version, not as comprehensive, is available at CollinsLanguage.com, where dictionaries from other languages are also available.
The Oxford English Dictionary
One of the oldest and largest dictionaries in existence, the Oxford English Dictionary was originally published in 1928 by Oxford University Press. The third edition, which editors are laboriously working to complete, is estimated to be complete by the year 2037. Each word is being reviewed, each definition revised with painstaking detail. Shortened versions of the book, as well as an electronic edition, are available to consumers.
Oxford Dictionary of English
Not to be confused with the Oxford English Dictionary, the Oxford Dictionary of English is a relatively new publication which made its debut in 1998 by Oxford University Press. The goal of this publication is to capture the English language in its most current evolutionary state. Sister to this publication is the New Oxford American Dictionary, an Americanized version of the aforementioned text.
Dictionary.com
This website provides free definitions for words, as well as an online thesaurus and translation services for more than fifty different languages. More than a regular dictionary, the site provides interesting articles about the English language, a “quote of the day”, information about trending searches, and much more.