FAQs
What is the best free Law Dictionary? ›
Lectric Law Library's Dictionary https://www.lectlaw.com/def.htm This is what many consider the Net's best law dictionary. It offers thousands of definitions & explanations of legal terms, phrases & concepts. Please note that LLL's Legal Lexicon addresses mainly US law.
What legal dictionary do lawyers use? ›A legal dictionary contains the definitions of legal terms taken from a variety of sources. They are the first place you should look when you do not understand what a legal term means. The two most commonly used legal dictionaries are Black's Law Dictionary and Ballentine's Law Dictionary.
Is Black's Law Dictionary free? ›Black's Law Dictionary - Free Online Legal Dictionary.
What is the most widely used legal dictionary? ›Black's Law Dictionary is the most frequently used U.S. legal dictionary. It is available in print and on Westlaw. Other popular dictionaries include: Ballentine's Law Dictionary available in print and on LexisNexis.
What is the most legitimate dictionary? ›The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) is widely accepted as the most complete record of the English language ever assembled. Unlike typical language dictionaries, which only define words in terms of their current uses and meanings, the OED is a historical dictionary.
What's the best free online dictionary? ›- Vocabulary.com. ...
- Webopedia. ...
- Wiktionary. ...
- Word Spy. ...
- Wordflex (Oxford) ...
- Wordnik. ...
- Wordsmyth. Dictionaries, word tools, and an amazing illustrated dictionary for children. ...
- YourDictionary. Definitions, thesaurus entries, spelling, pronunciation, and etymology results.
While some, like Black's, are considered very trustworthy, remember that the definitions in a legal dictionary are not official, authoritative statements of the law. To locate Black's in Westlaw, simply type the title in the main search box on Westlaw and then click on the matching link.
Can Black's Law Dictionary be used in court? ›Black's Law Dictionary is considered by many to be the preeminent legal dictionary for American law. It contains over 55,000 law-related words and phrases.
What is the best dictionary of legal words? ›Barron's Dictionary of Legal Terms includes over 2,500 terms in clear, easy-to-understand English and translates “legalese” for the layperson.
What does "black" mean legally? ›A person having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa.
Can you access Black's Law Dictionary online? ›
Black's Law Dictionary, 11th ed. can be found on Westlaw. Note: the internet has free versions, but only Westlaw will have the most current and accurate edition.
What does voir dire mean in the black Law Dictionary? ›Voir Dire is a French phrase that means “to speak the truth.” Blacks Law Dictionary 1569 (7th Edition 1999).
What dictionary does the Supreme Court use? ›The Supreme Court has referred to dictionaries in its opinions over 664 times. In recent years, almost every major case and many minor ones find the justices, or their clerks, thumbing through Webster's Third or the Oxford English Dictionary.
Is Black's Law Dictionary still used today? ›Black's Law Dictionary is the most frequently used legal dictionary in the United States.
What is the most commonly used word? ›The words in this word bank are listed in the order of their frequency of use in everyday writing. Since the is the most frequently used word in our language, its number is one in the word bank.
Is Black's law dictionary accurate? ›While some, like Black's, are considered very trustworthy, remember that the definitions in a legal dictionary are not official, authoritative statements of the law.
What is a good law dictionary? ›"Black's Law Dictionary" is recommended for attorneys and non-attorneys as the ultimate legal terminology reference book.
Which dictionary app is best and free? ›- Best Overall: Dictionary.com.
- Best All-in-one App: Merriam-Webster.
- Best for Serious Learners: Oxford Dictionary of English.
- Best for Encyclopedic Learning: The Free Dictionary by Farlex.
- Best for Learning in Context: FluentU.
- Best for Easy Definitions: Vocabulary.com.
Most libraries offer remote access. This means that, if you are a member of your local library, you can access the OED online for free anywhere you have internet access.