Oxford English Dictionary
The historical English dictionary
An unsurpassed guide for researchers in any discipline to the meaning, history, and usage of over 500,000 words and phrases across the English-speaking world.
Find out more about OEDUnderstanding entries
Glossaries, abbreviations, pronunciation guides, frequency, symbols, and more
Explore resourcesRecently added
Word of the day
diya
Word stories
Read our collection of word stories detailing the etymology and semantic development of a wide range of words, including ‘dungarees’, ‘codswallop’, and ‘witch’.
Word lists
Access our word lists and commentaries on an array of fascinating topics, from film-based coinages to Tex-Mex terms.
World Englishes
Explore our World Englishes hub and access our resources on the varieties of English spoken throughout the world by people of diverse cultural backgrounds.
History of English
Here you can find a series of commentaries on the History of English, charting the history of the English language from Old English to the present day.