English language for me, but list options for other languages to benefit others!
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.
m.dict.cc is a bit cleaner.
When I was learning Japanese, I used an app called i mi wa https://www.imiwaapp.com/ that I found pretty useful
Just search “define [word]” on duckduckgo. Works for like 95% of things I’m looking for.
Wiktionary is the most practical.
practical how? Not doubting, just curious what you meant
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’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
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.
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.
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.
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.
