Just search "define [word]" on duckduckgo. Works for like 95% of things I'm looking for.
this post was submitted on 06 Sep 2025
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Wiktionary.org usually
The English version is pretty good, but versions in other lanaguages can be lacking (e.g. Polish one is pretty basic, and sometimes it has wrong definitions).
The French version is really good.
Each definition has a discussion page for pointing out errors and the like. And if you're complete certain of something and can back that up with a source, you could even edit the entry itself.
dict.cc
m.dict.cc is a bit cleaner.
As an American I usually go with Merriam-Webster as being reasonably authoritative for typical American usage. Most often I’m trying to check a preferred spelling in situations where there might be more than one way to spell something.
When I need an English/French dictionary wordreference.com remains my go-to. I’ve also found Wikipedia to be useful for more technical terms by using the Other Languages feature.
Is wordreference good about providing translations that are common usage? I found some translators are too literal
dict.org
That's an interesting one. Looks like it pulls from a few less common (well, to me) sources. Has old school internet vibes
I'm hitting the dictionary more for etymology than definitions and pronunciation usually, so I like etymonline.com.
That's a fun one. Dangerous tho. I could easilly rabbit hole there
Thanks for pointing out nicely that I fat fingered it. 😆
When I was learning Japanese, I used an app called i mi wa https://www.imiwaapp.com/ that I found pretty useful
Wiktionary is the most practical.
I can't remember the last time I needed to look up an English word. It's infrequent enough that I'd just Google it, I don't have any go-to dictionary.
But I am currently learning Japanese and Yomitan has been an extremely useful browser extension. Just mouseover a word and hit shift to summon a popup dictionary.
For wackier definitions and slang, I like UrbanDictionary. I'd say Wiktionary, but someone already suggested that one.
I've also used dictionary.com and thesaurus.com in the past. Obvious names, but they're not terrible.
But back to UrbanDictionary - there's a lot of craziness and dross on there, but there are also plenty of diamonds in the rough.
I'll be honest, it's Urban Dictionary
The words I want to learn about aren't in a "normal" dictionary. Urban dictionary always delivers.
For actual authoritative word definitions, usages, and spelling variants, I use Oxford English Dictionary - it requires an account but most libraries include free access.
For quickly finding synonyms (and similar utility stuff) while writing, my go-to for the last few years has been WordHippo. There are plenty of other sites that give synonym lists, but in my experience WordHippo surfaces way more variety, including idiomatic expressions and slang.
OneLook. It's a meta-dictionary that lists other dictionaries which have the word. It also has a reverse lookup and pattern search which I frequently use.
Honestly, the folks at Merriam Webster are pretty amazing and I don't mind supporting them with a simple click.
Crowdsourced solutions are fine, but subject to armchair research and inaccuracy. If it really matters, I'd rather trust people who have studied and devoted their lives to being linguists.
I have to admit that I've given them a little wary side eye due, paradoxically, to brand recognition - coupled with the assumption that enshitification would have occurred by now with an established one like that
SpanishDictionary.com has been my goto while learning spanish.
First thing duckduckgo gives me.
ninjawords.com No ads, no bullshit, just a fast dictionary.
Never heard of it! I'll check it out
It's an amazing resource for french, will all the info you could ever need, and a pleasant search-focused ui.
Nice. I like that it's Québec French to boot
Yeah I am doing college in quebec, and it's the online dictionary the teachers recommend.
The fediverse is gonna hate it, but I look up words using Siri/Alexa.