Wordnik is an online English dictionary and word-reference service available on the web and through an API. Its pages present definitions gathered from multiple sources, while its API provides definitions from five dictionaries covering more than 800,000 words. The service offers real example sentences with links to their sources for more than 10,000,000 words. Word relationships include synonyms, hypernyms, hyponyms, words appearing in the same context, reverse-dictionary results and tags. API features also include audio pronunciations, word-of-the-day and random-word endpoints, spelling suggestions and word phrases. Logged-in users can make word lists, comment on word pages, lists and profiles, and mark words as favorites. Wordnik says much of its hypernym and hyponym data comes from WordNet, and its word-page images come from Flickr under a Creative Commons license. Commercial apps may use the API, but commercial products beyond proof of concept need a paid plan; an app cannot duplicate the API. Basic Plan users cannot cache API data, while paid users may temporarily cache display text, not raw data, for offline use. Paid plans start at 10.00 USD per month; a free basic plan is listed for nonprofit or research use.
Who it is for
Wordnik may suit readers looking up English words and developers building word-related apps with its API. Its community tools may also appeal to logged-in users who want to collect words or comment on word pages.
What is good
- Definitions come from multiple sources.
- API definitions cover more than 800,000 words.
- Examples include source links.
- API includes audio and spelling suggestions.
- Free basic plan listed for nonprofit or research use.
What to know first
- Basic Plan users cannot cache API data.
- Commercial apps beyond proof of concept need a paid plan.
- Apps cannot duplicate the Wordnik API.
- Offline caching excludes raw API data.
Verdict
Wordnik combines dictionary content, examples and word relationships with API features and community tools. Developers should check the commercial-use and caching conditions before building an app around the API.
Wordnik plans and pricing
All plansCompared on online dictionaries
- Free plan
- Yes
- Paid from
- $10/mo
- Audio pronunciation
- Yes
- Usage examples
- Yes
- Languages covered
- 1
