Merriam-Webster Dictionary API
by dictionaryapi.com
Language and text
Added on November 1st, 2026
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What it does
The Merriam-Webster Dictionary API gives entries from Merriam-Webster references such as the Collegiate Dictionary and Thesaurus: definitions, pronunciations with audio, parts of speech, etymology, synonyms and antonyms. Use it for a lookup box or a word-of-the-day feature. Request a word with your key and get the entries as JSON. Free with a free API key for non-commercial use, up to 1,000 queries a day for two reference APIs; commercial use needs Merriam-Webster's approval.
At a glance
- API key
- Needed, free · More APIs with a free key
- Pricing
- Free with a free API key for non-commercial use, up to 1,000 queries a day for two reference APIs; commercial use needs Merriam-Webster's approval.
- Commercial use
- Not on the free plan
- From the browser
- Yes (CORS)
- Formats
- JSON
- Interface
- HTTP-GET
- Provider
- dictionaryapi.com
More information: https://dictionaryapi.com/
Compare: Free Dictionary API vs Merriam-Webster Dictionary API
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Example request
curl
curl 'https://www.dictionaryapi.com/api/v3/references/collegiate/json/hello?key=YOUR_API_KEY'JavaScript
const response = await fetch("https://www.dictionaryapi.com/api/v3/references/collegiate/json/hello?key=YOUR_API_KEY");
const data = await response.json();
console.log(data);Python
import requests
response = requests.get(
"https://www.dictionaryapi.com/api/v3/references/collegiate/json/hello?key=YOUR_API_KEY",
timeout=30,
)
print(response.json())Replace YOUR_API_KEY with your own key. The JavaScript works in a web page as well as in Node.js 18 or newer.