For over 150 years, Macmillan has established a reputation as one of the world’s leading reference publishers. Our award-winning dictionaries for learners of English have become the choice of thousands of teachers and students worldwide. Created from scratch by skilled lexicographers working in Britain and America, using revolutionary software to analyse English as it is spoken and written today, they are the dictionaries to choose if you want up-to-the-minute access to the language used by native speakers. Whatever format you choose – print, online or on CD-ROM – you will find content to build your vocabulary, improve your accuracy and fluency, and become more aware of how English works.

The number of people learning English around the world today is vast, and Macmillan is very much in tune with the broad range of levels, ages, cultural backgrounds and motivation that these learners encompass. With this in mind, Macmillan has created a series of dictionaries which respond to the differing needs of learners worldwide. Click on the links below to find more information about each one.

  • Free Resources

    Free Dictionary Resources

    In this section we offer a variety of resources for use in the classroom: free e-lessons to help you integrate dictionaries into classroom work; dictation activities which focus on key issues for language learners; and interactive games to consolidate vocabulary.

     

  • BuzzWord

    BuzzWord wordle

    The English language is changing constantly, so keeping a dictionary up-to-date is a never-ending task. The popular Macmillan Dictionary BuzzWord feature is back: every week, an in-depth article looks at a new or current word.

     

  • Weekly BuzzWord

    The popular Macmillan Dictionary BuzzWord feature brings you a topical or current word every week. In and in-depth article, author Kerry Maxwell provides the definition, examples and the background to the BuzzWord of the week.

    Read this week's BuzzWord

  • Open Dictionary

    You don’t have to work at Macmillan to write a dictionary entry. Our Open Dictionary welcomes contributions from lovers of the English language throughout the world. So check out the most recent submissions and add your own!

    View Open Dictionary entries

  • Gadgets

    We provide a selection of ways to enable quick access to definitions directly from your browser or webpage. You can use our free search box, or you can enhance your website by allowing users to find definitions with the Dictionary Double Click plug-in.

    Find out more about our gadgets