15 Best English Dictionary Apps [2024] | FluentU English Blog (2024)

If you’re an English learner or an English speaker looking to widen your vocabulary, a good dictionary app is a must.

With a dictionary app on your phone, you’ll always have definitions when you need them.

Fortunately, there’s a huge collection of convenient options available for iOS and Android devices.

In this post, you’ll learn about 15 of the best English dictionary apps you can download today. Most of them are free and have extra features that go well beyond definitions!

Contents

• 1. Best Overall: Dictionary.com
• 2. Best All-in-one App: Merriam-Webster
• 3. Best for Serious Learners: Oxford Dictionary of English
• 4. Best for Encyclopedic Learning: The Free Dictionary by Farlex
• 5. Best for Learning in Context: FluentU
• 6. Best for Easy Definitions: Vocabulary.com
• 7. Best for Flashcards: English Dictionary – Offline
• 8. Best for Visual Learning: Dict Box: Universal Dictionary
• 9. Best for Slang Words: Urban Dictionary
• 10. Best for Quick Learning: Concise English Dictionary and Thesaurus
• 11. Best for Web References: WorldWeb Dictionary
• 12. Best for Advanced Learners: Cambridge English Dictionary
• 13. Best for Contemporary English: Longman Dictionary of English
• 14. Best for Android: ColorDict Dictionary
• 15. Best for Offline Translations: U Dictionary Translator
• How to Choose the Right Dictionary App for You

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1. Best Overall: Dictionary.com

Price: Free with in-app purchases

Available for: iPhone, iPad, Android

If you’re looking for a reliable and user-friendly dictionary app, Dictionary.com has one for you. It provides instant access to a vast collection of definitions, synonyms and antonyms and even works offline.

The app offers audio pronunciations, word origins and grammar tips to enhance language learning. It also lets you save words so you can make a vocabulary list.

Additionally, it provides daily word quizzes, articles and trending word lists to keep users engaged and expand their vocabulary. There’s a lot to learn from this app!

2. Best All-in-one App: Merriam-Webster

Price: Free with in-app purchases

Available for: iOS, Android

Merriam-Webster is a well-known and highly trusted dictionary. Their app provides quality definitions, audio pronunciations and usage examples in an on-the-go format available offline. It lets you save favorites, has a word of the day and keeps track of your recent searches.

The app also provides access to a thesaurus, word games and quizzes to enhance your vocabulary skills. With a user-friendly interface and regular updates, the Merriam-Webster app ensures that you have a reliable language reference at your fingertips.

The app even lets you search for words by speaking them! This feature is perfect for when you hear a word you don’t understand but aren’t sure how it’s written.

3. Best for Serious Learners: Oxford Dictionary of English

Price: Free with in-app purchases

Available for: iOS, Android

The Oxford Dictionary of English app is a comprehensive and reliable resource for English language reference. With over 350,000 words, phrases and meanings, it offers extensive coverage of the language.

The app provides clear and concise definitions, along with audio pronunciations and example sentences, to aid in understanding and usage. You can also access synonyms, antonyms and word origins.

Additionally, the app offers offline functionality, allowing you to access the dictionary even without an internet connection.

4. Best for Encyclopedic Learning: The Free Dictionary by Farlex

Price: Free with in-app purchases

Available for: iOS, Android, Windows

The Free Dictionary app is a versatile and comprehensive language resource. It offers a wide range of features, including a dictionary, thesaurus and encyclopedia, all in one app.

With millions of definitions, synonyms and translations, you can easily find the information you need. The app also provides audio pronunciations, example sentences and word origins to enhance understanding.

Additionally, it offers daily articles, word of the day and other language-related content to expand vocabulary and knowledge.

5. Best for Learning in Context: FluentU

Price: See current rates on the pricing page

Available for: Browser, iOS, Android

FluentU is primarily a language learning immersion program that teaches English through authentic videos like movie clips, music videos, interviews and much more. The contextual video dictionary is one of its most powerful features.

Each video has interactive subtitles: Hover over any word for a quick meaning or click on it to see its full definition flashcard. In this flashcard, you’ll see the grammar information of the word, an audio pronunciation, example sentences (also with audio) and clips from other videos that show the word in use.

All of this is contextual, which means that you’ll only see the specific meaning of the word as it’s being used in the sentence where you clicked on it.

You can add words as flashcards directly from these definition cards and review them through personalized quizzes. You can also search for words in the to find flashcards for their individual definitions and phrases where they commonly appear.

6. Best for Easy Definitions: Vocabulary.com

Price: Free

Available for: iOS, Android

The Vocabulary.com dictionary app is excellent for English learners because it has very easy-to-understand definitions. The site says it’s “as if your favorite teacher were explaining it to you.”

Each definition has explanations of what the word means and also when and how you would use it. And the app can be customized (made to fit) for the way you learn.

Vocabulary.com isn’t just a dictionary—it’s also a vocabulary-building app.It gives you questions for vocabulary words based on how you and millions of other users answered past questions. It even turns learning into a game by letting you earn points!

7. Best for Flashcards: English Dictionary – Offline

Price: Free

Available for: iOS, Android

This dictionary app isn’t as modern-looking as the rest, but it’s a very useful tool for language learners.

Of course, it has definitions—and as the name suggests, they are all available offline. But there are a few other options that make this a great app for an English learner.

You can create flashcards in this dictionary, and study them whenever you need to. You can look through a list of grammar lessons and listen to sample sentences. You can also play “Hang On, Man,” a Hangman-like game that tests your knowledge of vocabulary.

This app has American and British spellings. So if you’re looking for a British dictionary or need to know both forms, this is a good one.

For more flashcard apps, take a look at this list as well:

8. Best for Visual Learning: Dict Box: Universal Dictionary

Price: Free with in-app purchases

Available for: iOS, Android

Dict Box is a comprehensive offline dictionary and translator app for over 50 languages, all in one place. Each word comes with a detailed definition, synonyms and example sentences.

The app allows you to search for words even when you’re offline, making it convenient for language learners or travelers. In addition to the dictionary functionality, it also includes a translator, flashcards and the ability to save favorite words.

With a Premium account, you get access to their urban dictionary for slang words, a picture dictionary for visual learners, the ability to back up and sync word lists across devices and an ad-free experience in the app.

9. Best for Slang Words: Urban Dictionary

Price: Free

Available for: iOS,Android

Urban Dictionary is a unique dictionary app that focuses on slang words and unconventional meanings. Slang means informal language that’s commonly used in casual and social settings, such as with friends.

This app is a great addition to your language tools if you want to explore English-language humor and culture. While it includes definitions for regular words, they’re presented in a humorous way. You’ll probably want to have a regular dictionary app and use this one for slang.

Keep in mind that Urban Dictionary is created by users, so it may contain vulgar (rude or inappropriate) language. Use caution and avoid the offensive language it includes, and you’ll find it to be a fantastic resource for understanding words in casual contexts.

10. Best for Quick Learning: Concise English Dictionary and Thesaurus

Price: $0.99

Available for: iOS

This dictionary has short and easy-to-understand definitions. If you find most definitions are too difficult for you to read, this might be the app for you.

It includes a thesaurus so you can find words that are similar or opposite to the one you looked up. There are also references to learn more. So you can look up the word “diesel,” and also see who “Rudolf Diesel” was.

A great resource to use together with the thesaurus on this app is Visual Thesaurus. Visual Thesaurus is an interactive tool that lets you type in and click on words to see other, related words. This can help you understand the exact meaning of a word and choose the right word to use in a sentence.

11. Best for Web References: WorldWeb Dictionary

Price: Free with a pro version

Available for: iOS, Android

Dictionary – WorldWeb joins the ranks of top dictionary apps, providing a wealth of information at your fingertips. With a user-friendly interface, it offers quick access to definitions, synonyms, and antonyms.

The app’s offline capabilities ensure that you can delve into the world of words even without an internet connection.

Explore a vast collection of terms, enhance pronunciation skills with audio features, and save words for future reference. A handy tool for language learners and enthusiasts, this app adds diversity to your language learning journey.

12. Best for Advanced Learners: Cambridge English Dictionary

Price: Free with in-app purchases

Available for: iOS, Android

A trusted name in language references, the Cambridge English Dictionary app stands out for its comprehensive coverage of the English language. It offers clear and concise definitions, audio pronunciations, and example sentences to aid understanding and usage.

Synonyms, antonyms, and word origins are easily accessible, providing a holistic language learning experience. Enjoy the convenience of offline functionality, allowing you to access the wealth of knowledge within the Cambridge English Dictionary anytime, anywhere.

13. Best for Contemporary English: Longman Dictionary of English

Price: Free with in-app purchases

Available for: iOS, Android

The Longman Dictionary of English app is a trusted language resource for those seeking an in-depth understanding of English. This app includes over 230,000 words and phrases.

Longman monolingual and bilingual dictionary is specifically designed for learners and teachers of English, and for people who need to use English as a second language at work.

This dictionary has integrated thesaurus, collocations and important grammar information.

14. Best for Android: ColorDict Dictionary

Price: Free

Available for: Android

ColorDict Dictionary is an Android-exclusive app that caters to users seeking a free and efficient dictionary tool. With a straightforward interface, it provides quick access to definitions, synonyms, and translations.

The app supports multiple languages, allowing users to explore a diverse range of words and meanings.

While it lacks some advanced features, its simplicity and ease of use make it a handy companion for on-the-go language reference.

15. Best for Offline Translations: U Dictionary Translator

Price: Free with in-app purchases

Available for: iOS, Android

U Dictionary Translator is a versatile language app that goes beyond traditional dictionaries. Offering translations in multiple languages, this app is a valuable tool for those navigating multilingual contexts.

You can benefit from clear definitions, pronunciation guides, and examples.

The app’s offline mode ensures accessibility even without an internet connection.

With additional features like flashcards and word games, this app is great for language learners looking for a good translation tool.

How to Choose the Right Dictionary App for You

Which English dictionary app you choose depends on what you need it to do. Answering the following questions can help you decide:

• Do you need your dictionary to be available without a connection?
• Does it matter if the app takes up a lot of space on your phone?
• Do you need the dictionary to have studying help, or just simple definitions?
• Is the app’s appearance important, or do you only care about the definitions?
• Do you want to be able to hear the words spoken?

Let’s say you spend a lot of time reading on the subway, and you don’t have a lot of space left on your phone. In this case, you should get a dictionary app that’s small and has an offline option.

Besides being convenient for looking up words, dictionary apps can be a great way to add to your vocabulary. As you can see with the apps above, many of them even have special features that help you learn.

So, have you found your new favorite dictionary app? Download one of these awesome apps and try it out.

From now on, you’ll always have the meaning of a new word—right in your pocket!

For more great apps for English learners, check out these posts next:

Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)