LibGuides: English: Find Dictionaries

Need Definitions or Background Information?

Have you used Wikipedia to look up definitions before? Try using the Oxford English Dictionary or a scholarly resource like CREDO Reference Service. CREDO includes definitions, eBooks, encyclopedias, and handbooks.

Oxford English Dictionary This link opens in a new window
The accepted authority for definitions and etymology of words in English.
CREDO Reference This link opens in a new window
This collection of ebooks provides access to 800+ reputable reference books (dictionaries, encyclopedias, handbooks, etc.) supporting most academic disciplines.
Enhanced Electronic Grammars Online This link opens in a new window
A sophisticated Online Reference Work specially designed for the needs of general linguists and typologists

Other Recommended Dictionaries

English Oxford Living Dictionaries
"Oxford Dictionaries focuses on current language and practical usage. The English site provides free access to the largest current English dictionaries and thesaurus as well as helpful tips on grammar, usage, spelling, and more."
Maintained by Oxford University Press
Oxford Learner's Dictionaries
Maintained by Oxford University Press
Cambridge Dictionary
Maintained by Cambridge University Press