Dictionary.com is a leading online resource providing English definitions, synonyms, etymologies, audio pronunciations, example sentences, slang phrases, idioms, legal and medical terms, Word Of the Day, and more.
For over 25 years, dictionary.com has helped millions of people improve their use of the English Language – all while being a free resource.
These contribute to Dictionary.com being one of the top writing resources of all time. Still, they are also inclusive and up-to-date with slang/pop culture dictionaries and LGBT+ dictionaries designed to be inclusive to those of different sexual orientations and gender identities.
The Dictionary.com Domain
The dictionary.com domain was registered in May 1995 and is set to expire in May of 2022 unless renewed before that. The registered trademark ”dictionary.com” was filed in 2010.
Company History
Daniel Fierro and Brian Kariger founded Dictionary.com as part of Lexico Publishing LLC, which also started Thesaurus.com and Reference.com. At the time of its launch, it was the first site of its kind, providing in-depth referencing. In July 2008, Lexico Publishing Group was acquired by Ask.com, an IAC company, and subsequently renamed Dictionary.com LLC. In 2018 IAC Sold both Dictionary and Thesaurus.com to Rock Holdings.
At the time of its sale, Dictionary.com was overall the 447th most trafficked website in the USA according to the website tracking service SimilarWeb. In 2015, they estimated that there were 5.5 billion word searches per year on the site.
In April 2009, Dictionary.com Launched an App on the App Store that allows users to find definitions and synonyms in just a few clicks. Alongside this, audio pronunciations, alphabetical indexing, and synonym example sentences are available.
Since then, Dictionary.com also released a standalone thesaurus app called ”Thesaurus Rex” alongside educational apps like Dictionary.com flashcards, Word Dynamo, and Learning to Read with Zoo animals.
In 2010, similar to the word of the day feature, Dictionary.com launched a Word Of The Year feature. This word list is based on search trends each year. For example, 2013’s word of the year was privacy, 2016’s word of the year was Xenophobia, and 2020’s word of the year was pandemic. Over the years, Dictionary.com has expanded to offer a pop culture dictionary (with slang and emojis) and a crossword solver.
The content for Dictionary.com is based on the most recent version of Random House Unabridged Dictionary, with editors for the site providing the newest updated definitions. Additional content comes from the Collins English Dictionary, American Heritage dictionary, and other sources.
To be more inclusive to the LGBT+ community, Dictionary.com also launched a dictionary that explicitly explores gender identity, sexuality, and the language around it, advertising that people can ”be respectful and inclusive” by staying up to date with their ever-changing inclusive dictionary. The LGBT+ section even includes newer terms like ”Lavender ceiling” and clarification on issues like gender pronouns. New words are regularly added for further clarity.
In early 2020, in response to the covid-19 pandemic and associated home-schooling needs, dictionary.com launched an interactive platform for learning at home and an online tutoring service.
Later that year, dictionary.com’s sister site, Thesaurus.com, launched a writing assistant and grammar checker called Grammar Coach. The advanced writing assistant promises to enhance the quality of your writing while taking care of issues such as repetitive words or inappropriate adjectives.
Read more on domain names and trademarks.
Other Domains & Trademarks
To enjoy the benefits of trademark rights, you need to register your chosen brand names (as per trademark law). This includes other intellectual property, too, such as domains, trademarks, and logos.
Several key domains and trademarks are related to Dictionary.com LLC. Let’s take a look at the most well-known examples.
Thesaurus.com
Thesaurus.com is a sister service to Dictionary.com. For over 20 years, it has also helped millions of people improve their mastery of English and find a precise or superior word with over 3 million synonyms and antonyms available.
Like Dictionary.com, Thesaurus.com was registered in 1995 and will expire in May of 2022 unless it is renewed before that.
This particular trademark was first registered in 2006, abandoned in 2009, and then re-registered again.
Reference.com
Reference.com is an online encyclopedia that organizes content in a question-and-answer format. Articles are organized into hierarchal categories for easy research and referencing. The site was launched in 1997 and restructured by IAC in 2008 when they acquired it.
Reference.com domain was registered in 1995 and will expire in 2022 unless it is renewed before then. The trademark was registered for several years but appeared abandoned as of 2009.
Grammar Coach
Launched by Thesaurus.com, Grammar coach is a new program that promises to take your writing to the next level by eliminating repetitive words, spelling mistakes, and other literary issues in addition to suggesting better synonyms and overall polishing your writing.
Grammar coach is available in both free and paid subscriptions, with the paid version starting from $9.50 a month.
Dictionary.com LLC registered the trademark for this with the patent and trademark office in 2020.
Word Dynamo
WordDynamo is the product of Dictionary.com and is available in both free browser-based and paid app versions.
Word Dynamo provides various tools to help users expand their vocabulary, learn literary terms, practice grammar, and prepare for standardized tests such as the SAT.
Through several fun challenges like word and definition matching or crossword puzzles and digital flashcards, users may accomplish these tasks. Incentives like fun badges for completing achievements are on the website and in-app, so users can keep track of their progress and set goals for themselves. Word Dynamo is an excellent tool for expanding vocabulary and practicing the necessary skills for being a strong reader and writer. This app is easy to use and suitable for ages 6+.
The trademark registration for Word Dynamo was filed in 2011.
Thesaurus Rex
Thesaurus Rex by dictionary.com is a complete pocket thesaurus for your iPhone or iPad. Thesaurus Rex is full of synonyms, antonyms, and other related information, all available on your iPhone.
The search function allows you to search for any word and its variants and sort them by relevance, complexity, length, and more. It’s a great secret weapon for writers of all skill levels and even has an offline function, too. Thesaurus Rex was launched in March 2013 and had an average score of 4.5 out of 5 stars online.
Dictionary.com LLC initially registered the trademark for Thesaurus Rex in 2013.
Wrapping Up
The dictionary.com brand name is a famous common word trademark that is becoming synonymous with the website, arguably more popular than a physical dictionary. Millions of people turn to dictionary.com every year to check the definition of words, and associated sister sites like Thesaurus.com are just as popular.
Dictionary.com LLC also has an array of educational tools and apps available to help people of all ages, including newly launched apps explicitly designed to alleviate parents’ home education strain during the COVID-19 pandemic.
But being such a popular service provider comes with a level of risk, and you need to protect all of your hard work.
Copyright law gives trademark owners a vital framework to work within to protect their intellectual property. Still, you can only benefit from these critical legal protections by registering trademarks with the U.S. patent and trademark office. If you don’t do this, you have no recourse if you’re a victim of (what would otherwise be considered) trademark infringement.
