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).
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.
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.
It has lots of slang that the more official dictionaries don't have. Also, most of the times it lists the origin of the word, and it's simple to see translations in all languages that have Wiktionaries.
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 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
35 Comments
neidu3@sh.itjust.works · 27 pts · 334d
Wiktionary.org usually
Matriks404@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 334d
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).
palordrolap@fedia.io · 4 pts · 334d
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.
truite@jlai.lu · 2 pts · 334d
The French version is really good.
Hubi@feddit.org · 16 pts · 334d
dict.cc
lemmylommy@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 334d
m.dict.cc is a bit cleaner.
jqubed@lemmy.world · 9 pts · 334d
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.
classic@fedia.io · 1 pts · 334d
Is wordreference good about providing translations that are common usage? I found some translators are too literal
noahm@lemmy.world · 9 pts · 334d
dict.org
classic@fedia.io · 1 pts · 334d
That's an interesting one. Looks like it pulls from a few less common (well, to me) sources. Has old school internet vibes
tychosmoose@piefed.social · 8 pts · 334d
I'm hitting the dictionary more for etymology than definitions and pronunciation usually, so I like etymonline.com.
classic@fedia.io · 8 pts · 334d
https://www.etymonline.com/
That's a fun one. Dangerous tho. I could easilly rabbit hole there
tychosmoose@piefed.social · 3 pts · 334d
Thanks for pointing out nicely that I fat fingered it. 😆
carturo222@literature.cafe · 7 pts · 334d
Wiktionary is the most practical.
Dialectical_Specialist@quokk.au · 1 pts · 283d
practical how? Not doubting, just curious what you meant
carturo222@literature.cafe · 3 pts · 273d
It has lots of slang that the more official dictionaries don't have. Also, most of the times it lists the origin of the word, and it's simple to see translations in all languages that have Wiktionaries.
missingno@fedia.io · 4 pts · 334d
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.
Nemo@slrpnk.net · 4 pts · 334d
I'll be honest, it's Urban Dictionary
cRazi_man@europe.pub · 5 pts · 334d
The words I want to learn about aren't in a "normal" dictionary. Urban dictionary always delivers.
hoagecko@sh.itjust.works · 4 pts · 334d
As a native Japanese speaker, I primarily use the following three online dictionaries:
classic@fedia.io · 2 pts · 333d
When I was learning Japanese, I used an app called i mi wa https://www.imiwaapp.com/ that I found pretty useful
MurrayL@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 334d
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.
palordrolap@fedia.io · 3 pts · 334d
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.
YoiksAndAway@lemmy.zip · 2 pts · 334d
ninjawords.com No ads, no bullshit, just a fast dictionary.
classic@fedia.io · 2 pts · 334d
Never heard of it! I'll check it out
thatradomguy@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 334d
First thing duckduckgo gives me.
speq@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 2 pts · 334d
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.
https://onelook.com/
Stillwater@sh.itjust.works · 2 pts · 334d
SpanishDictionary.com has been my goto while learning spanish.
gedaliyah@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 334d
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.
classic@fedia.io · 1 pts · 334d
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
jxk@sh.itjust.works · 2 pts · 334d
Wiktionary https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Wiktionary:Main_Page
treadful@lemmy.zip · 2 pts · 334d
Just search "define [word]" on duckduckgo. Works for like 95% of things I'm looking for.
Blisterexe@lemmy.zip · 1 pts · 334d
https://usito.usherbrooke.ca/
It's an amazing resource for french, will all the info you could ever need, and a pleasant search-focused ui.
classic@fedia.io · 1 pts · 333d
Nice. I like that it's Québec French to boot
Blisterexe@lemmy.zip · 2 pts · 333d
Yeah I am doing college in quebec, and it's the online dictionary the teachers recommend.
cloudless@piefed.social · 1 pts · 334d