Pronunciations
Set your default to American or British English in the options tab.
You can also switch between British English and American English by using the link at the end of each entry.
Red Words and Stars
90% of the time, speakers of English use just 7,500 words in speech and writing.These words appear in red, and are graded with stars.
more about red words and stars
A must for anyone with an interest in the changing face of language. The Macmillan Dictionary blog explores English as it is spoken around the world today.
global English and language change from our blog
Gadgets
From a toolbar gadget to double-click functionality for your website, we've got a host of gadgets to choose from
About Macmillan English Dictionaries
This free English dictionary online was created by teams of lexicographers who studied real spoken and written text, showing exactly how and when words are used today. Go to options to set the dictionary for British or American English.
Language Resources
We asked you the question 'What's your favourite English word?' Listen to some of the answers here.
Watch the 21st Century Flux video
by Dizraeli.
Pronunciations
Audio recordings of all headwords are available in both British and American accents.
Red Words and Stars
The most common 7,500 words of English are highlighted in red, and are graded with stars to show their frequency. These are the words that all learners need to know.
more about red words and starsClear Definitions
Definitions are written in plain English, using a vocabulary of just 2,500 words. This means that learners can be confident that they will understand all definitions first time.
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macmillandictionaryblog carries some of the best writing on the web about the English language, the way it's changing, and the way it's used across the globe.
Every week, an in-depth article looks at a new or current word.
meme
a concept or idea that spreads very quickly via the Internet
Open Dictionary
You don't have to work at Macmillan to write a dictionary entry. Our Open Dictionary welcomes contributions from lovers of English throughout the world.
Gadgets
From a toolbar gadget to double-click functionality for your website, we've got a host of gadgets to choose from
get gadgetsWhat's your English?
Australia
Each month we highlight English as it's spoken somewhere in the world... more
New Words
The language is growing, and so is Macmillan Dictionary. Click below to see some of the new words that we have added this month.
Real Examples
Sometimes, an example can tell you as much as a definition. Macmillan Dictionary is packed with real examples which show you how the language is really used in the 21st century.
example sentencesUsage Notes
macmillandictionary.com gives you much more than a dictionary: hundreds of notes give guidance on difficult points of English usage, and help you to avoid those typical mistakes that are so easy to make.
how words are used