Frequently Asked Questions

How do I switch the default from British to American English?

At the bottom of each page there is a link to the site Options where you can choose to display the British or American English edition of Macmillan Dictionary.

How do I use the Macmillan Thesaurus?

Following every definition in Macmillan Dictionary, you will find a 'Synonyms and related words' heading. This will take you through to the corresponding page in Macmillan Thesaurus, where you can browse the most frequent and useful synonyms or related words for the exact meaning of the word you have looked up.

You can read more about Macmillan Thesaurus here.

How soon will my submission to the Open Dictionary appear on the website?

We will look carefully at all words that are submitted to the crowdsourced Open Dictionary. Those that are accepted will be posted as part of the next update of Macmillan Dictionary, usually within seven to ten days of being submitted.

This page provides more detailed information about the Open Dictionary.

Can I get Macmillan Dictionary on my browser toolbar?

Click here to add Macmillan Dictionary to your browser search box.

Are there any webmaster tools?

Click here for all our Macmillan Dictionary gadgets and plugins.

Can I get an RSS Feed?

RSS feeds are currently available for our BuzzWord feature, and also for our content published on Macmillan Dictionary Blog.

How can I go about licensing the Macmillan Dictionary data?

Macmillan Dictionary data is available via an API. For non-commercial applications, we offer free access up to a limit of 10,000 calls a month. For commercial use, terms and fees are negotiable. For further details on the API, please click here.

For all licensing inquiries, please contact us here.

How do I contact Macmillan Dictionary?

You can send us your queries by clicking here.

Why has Macmillan stopped printing dictionaries?

The sales of dictionaries have been in decline for years and at the same time the number of visitors to our online dictionary has grown enormously. The decision to stop printing dictionaries was therefore based on a choice that had been made by our users.

For more information, view this interview with Editor-in-Chief Michael Rundell.

Is Macmillan Dictionary available offline?

Using Macmillan Dictionary is completely free, but you do need to have access to the Internet. The Macmillan Dictionary site is mobile optimised, which means that it is easier to navigate on smaller screens like tablets or smartphones.

We understand that not everyone in the world enjoys good connectivity at the moment, but the overall picture is that access to the Internet is becoming increasingly widespread and this will further improve in the future.

What are the benefits of an online dictionary?

There are many advantages to an online dictionary: the multimedia aspect, the ability to hyperlink words to aid the discovery of new ones and the ability to frequently update content instead of once every few years.

Another big advantage of the online dictionary is that it's not platform-specific so both Windows and Mac users can access the content. The online dictionary site is optimised for the most widely used browsers.

We provide language games and language quizzes as well as downloadable language puzzles that are very good for polishing up your language skills. Such great resources simply aren't possible with paper dictionaries.

Is Macmillan Dictionary compatible with Macs?

A big advantage of Macmillan Dictionary being online is that it's not platform-specific so both Windows and Mac users can freely access the content. Macmillan Dictionary is mobile optimised, which means that the site is easier to navigate on smaller screens like smartphones or tablets.

How do you keep Macmillan Dictionary up to date?

We have our regular BuzzWord column, in which the author takes an in-depth look at interesting new language trends. We also have the Open Dictionary, a crowdsourced dictionary which includes entries submitted by our users. In addition, we make several updates to the dictionary every year to ensure that its content is up to date.

Will learners lose anything by not having the dictionary in book form?

No, we don't think they will. On the contrary, we feel that an online dictionary encourages exploration and offers greater opportunities for discovery. Because every word is hyperlinked, you're never more than a click away from a new definition, increasing the speed and ease with which you can browse and learn new words.

Where do I find more information about Macmillan Dictionary?

• For informative videos and for videos for the classroom, see our English Language Videos page.
• For language-related questions and discussions, subscribe to the Macmillan Dictionary Blog RSS feed.
• For Macmillan Dictionary's social media content, take a look at our Social Media page.