42:
324:
593:. Editors at Merriam spend about an hour a day looking at print sources, from books and newspapers to less formal publications, like advertisements and product packaging, to study the uses of individual words and choose things that should be preserved in the citation file. Merriam-Webster's citation file contains more than 16 million entries documenting individual uses of words. Millions of these citations are recorded on
576:
symbols from
Unicode version 1.1 published in 1993, but did not support the phonetic symbols specific to Merriam-Webster dictionaries until Unicode version 4.0 published in 2003. Hence, to enable computerized access to the pronunciation without having to rework all dictionaries to IPA notation, the
297:
and
Charles Merriam secured publishing and revision rights to the 1840 edition of the dictionary. They published a revision in 1847, which did not change any of the main text but merely added new sections, and a second update with illustrations in 1859. In 1864, Merriam published a greatly expanded
391:. The most notable change was the inclusion of the date of the first known citation of each word, to document its entry into the English language. The eleventh edition (published in 2003) includes more than 225,000 definitions, and more than 165,000 entries. A
277:, that did not appear in British dictionaries. At the age of 70 in 1828, Webster published his dictionary; it sold poorly, with only 2,500 copies, and put him in debt. However, in 1840, he published the second edition in two volumes with much greater success.
226:. To help him trace the etymology of words, Webster learned 26 languages. Webster hoped to standardize American speech, since Americans in different parts of the country used somewhat different vocabularies and spelled, pronounced, and used words differently.
568:
in their dictionaries—intended to help people from different parts of the United States learn how to pronounce words the same way as others who spoke with the same accent or dialect did.
597:
in their paper citation files. The earliest entries in the paper citation files date back to the late 19th century. Since 2009, all new entries are recorded in an electronic database.
807:, 15th edition, New York and London: University of Chicago Press, 2003, Chapter 7: "Spelling, Distinctive Treatment of Words, and Compounds", Section 7.1 "Introduction", p. 278.
914:
305:. This began a series of revisions that were described as being "unabridged" in content. In 1884 it contained 118,000 words, "3000 more than any other English dictionary".
973:
768:
427:
Since the 1940s, the company has added many specialized dictionaries, language aides, and other references to its repertoire. The company has been a subsidiary of
186:
978:
559:
818:
217:
998:
434:
The dictionary maintains an active social media presence, where it frequently posts dictionary related content as well as its takes on politics. Its
466:
870:
625:
612:
352:
298:
edition, which was the first version to change
Webster's text, largely overhauling his work yet retaining many of his definitions and the title "
154:
475:
387:(the main text of which has remained virtually unrevised since 1961). Some proper names were returned to the word list, including names of
884:
408:
The G. & C. Merriam
Company lost its right to exclusive use of the name "Webster" after a series of lawsuits placed that name in
922:
395:
of the text is sometimes included. This dictionary is preferred as a source "for general matters of spelling" by the influential
197:, acquired Merriam-Webster, Inc., as a subsidiary. The company adopted its current name, Merriam-Webster, Incorporated, in 1982.
845:
983:
222:. In 1807 Webster started two decades of intensive work to expand his publication into a fully comprehensive dictionary,
17:
573:
707:
428:
194:
128:
54:
364:, or avoiding complete sentences when a phrase was sufficient. Others, more controversial, signaled a shift from
233:. His 1820s book contained 70,000 words, of which about 12,000 had never appeared in a dictionary before. As a
360:, making changes that sparked public controversy. Many of these changes were in formatting, omitting needless
993:
550:
service that provides subscribers the opportunity to create and submit their own new words and definitions.
454:
In 1996, Merriam-Webster launched its first website, which provided free access to an online dictionary and
316:
editions of 1909 and 1934, totaling over half a million words, with the 1934 edition retrospectively called
988:
589:
Merriam creates entries by finding uses of a particular word in print and recording them in a database of
803:
397:
118:
237:, Webster believed that English spelling rules were unnecessarily complex, so his dictionary introduced
388:
177:
103:
732:
647:
365:
338:
was introduced in 1898 and the series is now in its eleventh edition. Following the publication of
383:
adopted changes which distinguish it as a separate entity rather than merely an abridgment of the
957:
618:
286:
230:
565:
369:
682:
190:
from
Webster's estate. All Merriam-Webster dictionaries trace their lineage to this source.
823:
439:
892:
8:
488:
357:
652:
526:
On
February 16, 2007, Merriam-Webster announced the launch of a mobile dictionary and
778:
657:
229:
Webster completed his dictionary during his year abroad in 1825 in Paris, and at the
401:, which is followed by many book publishers and magazines in the United States. The
773:
443:
238:
819:"Merriam-Webster: A 200-year-old dictionary offers hot political takes on Twitter"
577:
online services of
Merriam-Webster specify phonetics using a less-specific set of
871:"Kyle Rittenhouse Gets Trolled By Merriam-Webster Dictionary for Crying in Court"
234:
294:
273:
169:
158:
114:
82:
49:
967:
782:
661:
534:. Consumers use the service to access definitions, spelling and synonyms via
409:
499:, Spanish/English, and numerous others. Non-dictionary publications include
606:
535:
484:
438:
account has frequently used dictionary jargon to criticize and lampoon the
211:
181:
560:
Pronunciation respelling for
English § Traditional respelling systems
361:
609:, noted lexicographer/editor/social media personality at Merriam-Webster
323:
594:
162:
41:
737:
The Week: A Canadian
Journal of Politics, Literature, Science and Arts
918:
527:
480:
470:
455:
424:" as a subtitle for many years and will be found on older editions.
949:
531:
462:
569:
435:
350:
editions. Merriam overhauled the dictionary again with the 1961
492:
392:
530:
service developed with mobile search-and-information provider
405:
states that it "normally opts for" the first spelling listed.
165:. It is the oldest dictionary publisher in the United States.
578:
496:
267:
139:
547:
960:
at the
Amherst College Archives & Special Collections
320:
or simply "The Second Edition" of the New International.
648:"Attention, New Englanders: Fluffernutter Is Now a Word"
915:"AskMeNow and Merriam-Webster Launch Mobile Dictionary"
564:
The Merriam-Webster company once used a unique set of
308:
With the edition of 1890, the dictionary was retitled
442:. In one viral tweet, Merriam Webster subtly accused
346:
editions were issued as abridgments of each of their
461:Merriam-Webster has also published dictionaries of
216:In 1806, Webster published his first dictionary,
974:Book publishing companies based in Massachusetts
965:
846:"18 Times Merriam-Webster Was a Political Troll"
708:"An American Dictionary of the English Language"
219:A Compendious Dictionary of the English Language
372:American English as it was used at that time.
224:An American Dictionary of the English Language
187:An American Dictionary of the English Language
979:Companies based in Springfield, Massachusetts
626:Webster's Third New International Dictionary
613:Lists of Merriam-Webster's Words of the Year
538:. Services also include Merriam-Webster's
265:. He also added American words, including
40:
476:Merriam-Webster's Geographical Dictionary
420:in 1983. Previous publications had used "
418:Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary
377:Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary
999:Publishing companies established in 1831
816:
322:
312:. The vocabulary was vastly expanded in
817:Pitofsky, Marina (September 13, 2019).
553:
328:Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary
280:
184:died, the company bought the rights to
14:
966:
958:G. & C. Merriam Company Collection
912:
885:"Timeline: Merriam-Webster Milestones"
766:
645:
762:
760:
758:
913:Trusca, Sorin (February 16, 2007).
767:Fatsis, Stefan (January 12, 2015).
24:
646:Correa, Carla (November 3, 2021).
584:
25:
1010:
941:
755:
379:(WNNCD), published in 1983), the
353:Webster's Third New International
27:American publisher and dictionary
769:"The Definition of a Dictionary"
293:In 1843, after Webster's death,
906:
877:
521:Encyclopedia of World Religions
205:
863:
838:
810:
796:
725:
712:Encyclopædia Britannica Online
700:
687:Encyclopædia Britannica Online
675:
639:
509:Manual for Writers and Editors
318:Webster's Second International
13:
1:
632:
446:of fake crying at his trial.
429:Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
414:Merriam-Webster, Incorporated
195:Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
151:Merriam-Webster, Incorporated
129:Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
55:Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
35:Merriam-Webster, Incorporated
743:(10): 160. February 11, 1884
683:"Merriam-Webster Dictionary"
422:A Merriam-Webster Dictionary
161:and is mostly known for its
66:; 193 years ago
7:
984:Online English dictionaries
804:The Chicago Manual of Style
600:
449:
416:", with the publication of
412:. Its name was changed to "
398:The Chicago Manual of Style
314:Webster's New International
10:
1015:
557:
517:Encyclopedia of Literature
389:Knights of the Round Table
284:
209:
200:
178:Springfield, Massachusetts
170:George and Charles Merriam
104:Springfield, Massachusetts
366:linguistic prescriptivism
134:
124:
110:
97:
89:
78:
60:
48:
39:
375:With the ninth edition (
513:Collegiate Encyclopedia
385:Third New International
356:under the direction of
340:Webster's International
310:Webster's International
231:University of Cambridge
172:founded the company as
733:"Webster's Unabridged"
331:
300:An American Dictionary
558:Further information:
336:Collegiate Dictionary
326:
285:Further information:
241:spellings, replacing
174:G & C Merriam Co.
98:Headquarters location
994:Reference publishers
925:on November 12, 2021
619:Webster's Dictionary
554:Pronunciation guides
505:Secretarial Handbook
501:Collegiate Thesaurus
440:Trump administration
288:Webster's Dictionary
281:Merriam as publisher
989:Webby Award winners
895:on January 13, 2015
119:online dictionaries
36:
18:Merriam-Webster.com
954:of Merriam-Webster
653:The New York Times
332:
330:, Eleventh Edition
101:47 Federal Street,
34:
235:spelling reformer
180:. In 1843, after
148:
147:
111:Publication types
90:Country of origin
85:, Charles Merriam
16:(Redirected from
1006:
953:
952:
950:Official website
935:
934:
932:
930:
921:. Archived from
910:
904:
903:
902:
900:
891:, archived from
881:
875:
874:
867:
861:
860:
858:
856:
842:
836:
835:
833:
831:
814:
808:
800:
794:
793:
791:
789:
764:
753:
752:
750:
748:
729:
723:
722:
720:
718:
704:
698:
697:
695:
693:
679:
673:
672:
670:
668:
643:
566:phonetic symbols
444:Kyle Rittenhouse
304:
239:American English
155:American company
144:
141:
135:Official website
74:
72:
67:
44:
37:
33:
21:
1014:
1013:
1009:
1008:
1007:
1005:
1004:
1003:
964:
963:
948:
947:
944:
939:
938:
928:
926:
911:
907:
898:
896:
889:Merriam-Webster
883:
882:
878:
869:
868:
864:
854:
852:
844:
843:
839:
829:
827:
815:
811:
801:
797:
787:
785:
765:
756:
746:
744:
731:
730:
726:
716:
714:
706:
705:
701:
691:
689:
681:
680:
676:
666:
664:
644:
640:
635:
603:
587:
585:Writing entries
562:
556:
544:Open Dictionary
540:Word of the Day
452:
302:
291:
283:
214:
208:
203:
159:reference books
157:that publishes
140:merriam-webster
138:
115:Reference books
102:
70:
68:
65:
28:
23:
22:
15:
12:
11:
5:
1012:
1002:
1001:
996:
991:
986:
981:
976:
962:
961:
955:
943:
942:External links
940:
937:
936:
905:
876:
862:
837:
809:
795:
754:
724:
699:
674:
637:
636:
634:
631:
630:
629:
622:
615:
610:
602:
599:
586:
583:
555:
552:
451:
448:
431:, since 1964.
403:Chicago Manual
358:Philip B. Gove
295:George Merriam
282:
279:
210:Main article:
207:
204:
202:
199:
146:
145:
136:
132:
131:
126:
122:
121:
112:
108:
107:
99:
95:
94:
91:
87:
86:
83:George Merriam
80:
76:
75:
62:
58:
57:
52:
50:Parent company
46:
45:
26:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1011:
1000:
997:
995:
992:
990:
987:
985:
982:
980:
977:
975:
972:
971:
969:
959:
956:
951:
946:
945:
924:
920:
916:
909:
894:
890:
886:
880:
872:
866:
851:
847:
841:
826:
825:
820:
813:
806:
805:
799:
784:
780:
776:
775:
770:
763:
761:
759:
742:
738:
734:
728:
713:
709:
703:
688:
684:
678:
663:
659:
655:
654:
649:
642:
638:
628:
627:
623:
621:
620:
616:
614:
611:
608:
605:
604:
598:
596:
592:
582:
580:
575:
572:accommodated
571:
567:
561:
551:
549:
545:
541:
537:
533:
529:
524:
522:
518:
514:
510:
506:
502:
498:
494:
490:
489:medical terms
486:
482:
478:
477:
472:
468:
467:English usage
464:
459:
457:
447:
445:
441:
437:
432:
430:
425:
423:
419:
415:
411:
410:public domain
406:
404:
400:
399:
394:
390:
386:
382:
378:
373:
371:
367:
363:
359:
355:
354:
349:
345:
342:in 1890, two
341:
337:
329:
325:
321:
319:
315:
311:
306:
301:
296:
290:
289:
278:
276:
275:
270:
269:
264:
260:
256:
252:
248:
244:
240:
236:
232:
227:
225:
221:
220:
213:
198:
196:
191:
189:
188:
183:
179:
175:
171:
166:
164:
160:
156:
152:
143:
137:
133:
130:
127:
123:
120:
116:
113:
109:
105:
100:
96:
93:United States
92:
88:
84:
81:
77:
63:
59:
56:
53:
51:
47:
43:
38:
32:
30:
19:
927:. Retrieved
923:the original
908:
897:, retrieved
893:the original
888:
879:
865:
855:November 13,
853:. Retrieved
849:
840:
830:November 13,
828:. Retrieved
822:
812:
802:
798:
786:. Retrieved
772:
745:. Retrieved
740:
736:
727:
715:. Retrieved
711:
702:
690:. Retrieved
686:
677:
665:. Retrieved
651:
641:
624:
617:
607:Kory Stamper
595:3-by-5 cards
590:
588:
581:characters.
563:
543:
539:
536:text message
525:
520:
516:
512:
508:
504:
500:
485:proper names
474:
460:
453:
433:
426:
421:
417:
413:
407:
402:
396:
384:
380:
376:
374:
368:and towards
351:
347:
343:
339:
335:
333:
327:
317:
313:
309:
307:
299:
292:
287:
272:
266:
262:
258:
254:
250:
246:
242:
228:
223:
218:
215:
212:Noah Webster
206:Noah Webster
192:
185:
182:Noah Webster
173:
167:
163:dictionaries
150:
149:
31:
29:
899:October 14,
667:November 5,
362:punctuation
968:Categories
633:References
381:Collegiate
370:describing
348:Unabridged
344:Collegiate
929:March 14,
919:Softpedia
783:1091-2339
747:April 26,
662:0362-4331
591:citations
528:thesaurus
481:biography
471:geography
456:thesaurus
193:In 1964,
168:In 1831,
824:The Hill
788:July 12,
717:June 24,
692:June 24,
601:See also
532:AskMeNow
463:synonyms
450:Services
125:Owner(s)
570:Unicode
495:terms,
436:Twitter
201:History
79:Founder
69: (
61:Founded
781:
660:
519:, and
493:sports
393:CD-ROM
274:squash
263:center
259:centre
257:, and
251:waggon
243:colour
153:is an
106:, U.S.
774:Slate
579:ASCII
542:—and
497:slang
268:skunk
261:with
255:wagon
253:with
247:color
245:with
931:2014
901:2018
857:2021
850:Time
832:2021
790:2015
779:ISSN
749:2013
719:2015
694:2015
669:2021
658:ISSN
548:wiki
546:, a
334:The
271:and
142:.com
71:1831
64:1831
574:IPA
479:),
176:in
970::
917:.
887:,
848:.
821:.
777:.
771:.
757:^
739:.
735:.
710:.
685:.
656:.
650:.
523:.
515:,
511:,
507:,
503:,
491:,
487:,
483:,
469:,
465:,
458:.
249:,
117:,
933:.
873:.
859:.
834:.
792:.
751:.
741:1
721:.
696:.
671:.
473:(
303:"
73:)
20:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.