Description: "A general dictionary of the English language providing meanings, spellings, pronunciations, inflections, first-recorded use dates, and etymologies of words. Includes coverage of idioms, guidance on grammar and usage, and examples of use, including quotations. Illustrated throughout. Tables, expository paragraphs, and curated lists appear at select entries"-- Provided by publisher.
Brief description: For over 180 years, Merriam-Webster has been America's leading provider of language information. Each month, our award-winning websites, apps, and social media channels offer guidance to tens of millions of visitors. All Merriam-Webster products and services are backed by the largest team of professional dictionary editors and writers in America.
Review Quotes: "Take your AI-hallucinated definitions and send them in a rocket ship to Mars, baby! Merriam-Webster dictionary is back in print in a new edition. In its first update since 2003, it's added 5,000 new words, 20,000 new usage examples, and 1,000 new idioms and phrases (hello, "dad bod"). But that's not the most important part, which is that this is a beautiful, solid, immutable printed book. It will never randomly serve up some flaky incorrect definition or reference. Merriam-Webster's dictionary captures language in a moment, with the full history and understanding of the way it evolves. It was crafted by researchers and etymologists who love words ("comes from the Greek word etymon, meaning 'literal meaning of a word according to its origin' "). The Merriam-Webster website is hugely popular -- keep using it! -- but an actual printed dictionary will never let you down, and be good for another 20 years." -- Carolyn Kellogg, Los Angeles Times, The 15 Best Books of 2025