Merriam-Webster
Merriam-Webster is a dictionary publisher and language-reference website known for definitions, pronunciations, thesaurus entries, word histories, usage notes, Word of the Day, games, and mobile dictionary apps.
What Merriam-Webster is
Merriam-Webster is a dictionary publisher and website at merriam-webster.com for English definitions, pronunciations, spelling, synonyms, antonyms, etymologies, usage guidance, quizzes, and word articles. Its official dictionary app is available on the App Store and Google Play.
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From print to web
Merriam-Webster grew from the dictionary tradition associated with Noah Webster and later print editions of Webster's dictionaries. The company moved into electronic publishing before the web and launched Merriam-Webster OnLine in 1996. That shift changed dictionary use from bookshelf consultation to instant lookup in search results, apps, classrooms, offices, and everyday writing.
Dictionary entries
A Merriam-Webster entry is more than a short meaning. It can include pronunciation, word division, part of speech, example sentences, synonyms, related phrases, word history, first-known-use information, and usage notes. Some entries are simple because the word is simple; others act like miniature essays about how a word has changed.
Thesaurus and word choice
The thesaurus side helps writers compare nearby words rather than simply swap one word for another. Synonyms can share a general meaning while differing in tone, formality, intensity, field, or implication. That is why examples and usage notes matter: a synonym list is useful only when readers understand the contexts where each word fits.
Word of the Day and games
Merriam-Webster's website is also a daily language destination. Word of the Day, quizzes, spelling games, grammar pieces, and wordplay articles turn reference lookup into repeat visits. This is one reason the site sits between a dictionary, a learning tool, and a language magazine.
Editorial process
Merriam-Webster describes its work as evidence-based lexicography. Editors track how words are actually used, then write and revise entries as usage changes. That approach means dictionaries are not rulebooks handed down once; they are records of language as communities speak, write, argue, invent, and borrow.
Apps and offline lookup
The official dictionary app extends the website into mobile lookup. Merriam-Webster's app listings emphasize offline access to definitions and synonyms, voice search, Word of the Day, games, favorites, search history, audio pronunciations, and an integrated thesaurus. Some features still need a connection, such as illustrations, voice search, or audio.
Why it matters
Merriam-Webster matters because dictionaries shape how people check meaning, spelling, pronunciation, and accepted usage. Its website also shows how reference publishing adapted to the internet: search visibility, mobile apps, games, social media, and fast commentary on language trends now sit beside formal dictionary entries.
WHOIS domain data
Data pulled: June 1, 2026View current WHOIS record
- Domain
- merriam-webster.com
- IP address
- 3.162.112.64
- Registrar
- CSC Corporate Domains, Inc.
- WHOIS server
- whois.corporatedomains.com
- Referral URL
- http://cscdbs.com
- Created
- February 8, 1999
- Updated
- February 4, 2026
- Expires
- February 8, 2027
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- ns-1998.awsdns-57.co.uk (205.251.199.206); ns-636.awsdns-15.net (205.251.194.124); ns-323.awsdns-40.com (205.251.193.67); ns-1084.awsdns-07.org (205.251.196.60)
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