Vladimir:Dictionaries. Hundreds of posts have already been written about them, and thousands more will be written in the future. So why did I decide to share a few thoughts about them now? The answer is simple: I had an argument with one of my students. Well, “argument” might be a bit of an exaggeration. We just use different dictionaries and stubbornly defend the ones we like best. In this post, since I run a community, I’ll try to convert as many of you as possible to my religion of dictionaries.
There’s something symbolic about the number "3," and fittingly, I have three dictionaries that I use almost every day when I need to clarify something: Oxford Learner’s Dictionary,
Dictionary.com, and
Vocabulary.com.
Oxford Learner’s Dictionary is a timeless classic. Being one of the oldest and most respected dictionaries in the world, it boasts an enormous database of definitions, collocations, and example sentences. One feature I love is that it provides pronunciation options for both British and American English, ensuring you get a comprehensive view of the word without bias. What makes Oxford stand out is its commitment to learners—it not only offers definitions but also breaks down word usage in ways that are accessible to non-native speakers, providing rich examples to help with context and sentence structure.
Dictionary.com is a newer source for me. For years, I used
Lexico.com, another giant product of Oxford, but one day, they shut it down and redirected users to
Dictionary.com. This is not a dictionary designed for learners, but rather a resource geared towards native speakers. Its database rivals that of Oxford, and in some respects, it even outshines it, drawing from renowned sources like Collins, Random House, and American Heritage. One of its standout features is its use of the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) for pronunciation. For those more comfortable with phonetic respelling, it allows you to switch between the two options, making it versatile for different types of users. Additionally,
Dictionary.com offers a wealth of language tools, including a word of the day feature and educational articles that can deepen your understanding of linguistic nuances.
Vocabulary.com is the ultimate source for example sentences. It goes beyond providing definitions, collocations, and word families—it categorizes example sentences into various domains such as fiction, arts, news, business, and more. This gives learners a fantastic opportunity to see how a word is used in different real-world communicative environments, which is invaluable for truly mastering its application. What sets
Vocabulary.com apart is its interactive learning features. Through quizzes and adaptive learning algorithms, it helps users reinforce the words they’ve looked up, creating a more engaging experience. It’s not just a reference tool—it’s a comprehensive learning platform.
So there you have it, my ultimate trio. These three resources together give me everything I need to teach, learn, and explore language from multiple angles. Whether you're a student or a teacher, having a variety of dictionaries at your fingertips can broaden your understanding and refine your skills.