Dictionaries

A dictionary is a special book that tells you what words mean. Words are listed in ABC order to help you find them fast. Dictionaries also show how to say words and how to spell them. They are helpful tools for readers and writers.

What's Inside

Each entry in a dictionary has a word and its meaning. It also shows how to break the word into syllables. Many dictionaries include sample sentences. Some even add small pictures to help explain tricky words.

A giant set of old dictionary books sitting on a library table.
A giant set of old dictionary books sitting on a library table. (Dr. Marcus Gossler / Wikimedia Commons)

Famous Dictionaries

The Oxford English Dictionary is one of the biggest in the world. Noah Webster made the first American English dictionary. Today, many people use online dictionaries on their phones. New words are added to dictionaries every year.

Fun Facts

  • The Oxford English Dictionary has over 600,000 words.
  • Noah Webster took 27 years to finish his first dictionary.
  • New words like 'selfie' have been added to dictionaries in recent years.

Did You Know?

The longest word in most English dictionaries has 45 letters and is the name of a lung disease.