API Reference

The Dictionary API provides programmatic access to comprehensive lexical data, including definitions, pronunciations, etymologies, translations, and synonyms across 100+ languages. All endpoints are available over HTTPS and return JSON responses.

https://api.dictionary.com/v1

Authentication

Dictionary API uses Bearer token authentication. Include your API key in the request header as shown below:

Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY

Generate your API key from the Developer Dashboard. Keep your keys secure and never expose them in client-side code.

Rate Limits

API requests are rate-limited based on your subscription tier. Limits are applied per API key per minute.

GET /words/{word}

Retrieves comprehensive lexical data for a specific word, including definitions, phonetics, parts of speech, and usage examples.

Parameters

Example Request

curl -X GET "https://api.dictionary.com/v1/words/ephemeral" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Accept: application/json"

Example Response

{ "word":  "ephemeral",
 "phonetic":  "/əˈfem.ər.əl/",
 "meanings": [
  {
     "partOfSpeech":  "adjective",
     "definitions": [
      {
         "definition":  "Lasting for a very short time.",
         "example":  "The ephemeral nature of cherry blossoms."
      }
    ]
  }
],
 "source":  "Dictionary API v1"}

GET /search

Fuzzy search across the dictionary database. Returns matching words ranked by relevance.

Query Parameters

Example Response

{ "results": [
  { "word":  "ephemeral",  "score":  0.98},
  { "word":  "ephemera",  "score":  0.92},
  { "word":  "ephemerality",  "score":  0.89}
],
 "total":  3,
 "query":  "ephem"}

POST /translate

Translates a word or phrase into the target language with context-aware results.

Request Body

{ "text":  "hello world",
 "source_lang":  "en",
 "target_lang":  "es",
 "formality":  "standard"}

Example Response

{ "translation":  "hola mundo",
 "source_text":  "hello world",
 "detected_lang":  "en",
 "alternatives": [ "buenos días mundo"]}

GET /synonyms/{word}

Returns semantic synonyms, antonyms, and related terms with relevance scores.

Error Codes

Dictionary API uses standard HTTP status codes and returns detailed error objects.

Error Response Format

{ "error": {
   "code":  "unauthorized",
   "message":  "Invalid API key provided.",
   "status":  401
}}