Privacy Policy

📥 1. Information We Collect

When you use Dictionary's services, we collect information in the following ways:

1.1 Information You Provide Directly

• Account information including name, email address, and password when you create an account
• Search queries and words you look up on our platform
• Words you save, bookmark, or add to personal word lists
• Payment and billing information when you subscribe to a paid plan
• Communications you send through our support channels or feedback forms
• Profile information you choose to add, such as language preferences

1.2 Information Collected Automatically

• Device information including hardware model, operating system, and browser type
• IP address and approximate geographic location
• Usage data such as pages visited, features used, and time spent on the platform
• Log data including crash reports, referrer URLs, and access times
• Cookie and similar technology data (see Section 4 for details)

1.3 Information from Third Parties

• Social media information if you connect your Dictionary account to a social platform
• Analytics data from Google Analytics and other measurement partners
• Verification data from identity verification services during account setup

⚙️ 2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

2.1 Service Delivery

• Providing dictionary definitions, translations, and pronunciation features
• Managing your account, subscriptions, and preferences
• Processing transactions and sending billing information
• Delivering personalized content and word recommendations

2.2 Platform Improvement

• Analyzing usage patterns to improve our algorithms and search accuracy
• Developing new features based on user behavior and feedback
• Conducting research on language trends and usage patterns
• Training and improving our AI-powered language models

2.3 Communication

• Sending account notifications, security alerts, and service updates
• Providing customer support and responding to your inquiries
• Sending promotional communications (only with your consent)
• Delivering the daily word and vocabulary-building features

2.4 Legal Compliance

• Complying with applicable laws, regulations, and legal processes
• Enforcing our Terms of Service and detecting abusive behavior
• Protecting the rights, property, and safety of Dictionary, our users, and the public

🔗 3. Information Sharing

We do not sell your personal information. We share information only in the following circumstances:

3.1 Service Providers

We share information with trusted third-party vendors who perform services on our behalf, including:

• Cloud hosting and infrastructure providers (e.g., AWS, Google Cloud)
• Payment processing services (e.g., Stripe, PayPal)
• Email delivery and communication platforms
• Analytics and data analysis partners
• Customer support and helpdesk software providers

3.2 Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information if required to do so by law or in response to valid requests by public authorities, including:

• Court orders, subpoenas, or other legal processes
• Government investigations related to illegal activity
• Protection of national security or public safety

3.3 Business Transfers

If Dictionary is involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your personal information may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will notify you of any such change via email and prominent notice on our website.

3.4 With Your Consent

We may share information with third parties when you give us explicit consent to do so, such as when you choose to share a word definition or vocabulary list on social media.

🍪 4. Cookies & Tracking Technologies

Dictionary uses cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your experience. Here's what you need to know:

4.1 Types of Cookies We Use

4.2 Managing Your Cookie Preferences

You can control cookies through your browser settings or our cookie consent manager. Disabling essential cookies may affect the functionality of our services. For more information, visit aboutcookies.org.

4.3 Do Not Track Signals

Some browsers send "Do Not Track" (DNT) signals. We respect DNT signals and do not track users who enable this setting for advertising purposes.

🔐 5. Data Security

Dictionary employs industry-standard security measures to protect your personal information:

• Encryption: All data is encrypted in transit using TLS 1.3 and at rest using AES-256 encryption
• Access Controls: Strict role-based access controls limit employee access to personal data on a need-to-know basis
• Infrastructure Security: Our servers are hosted in SOC 2 Type II compliant data centers with 24/7 monitoring
• Regular Audits: We conduct regular security audits and penetration testing by independent firms
• Incident Response: We maintain a documented incident response plan and will notify affected users within 72 hours of any confirmed breach as required by law

⏳ 6. Data Retention

We retain your personal information only as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this policy:

• Account Data: Retained while your account is active and for 30 days after deletion, unless longer retention is required by law
• Search History: Stored for 12 months to provide personalized recommendations, then anonymized
• Word Lists & Bookmarks: Retained indefinitely until you delete them
• Payment Records: Retained for 7 years in accordance with tax and financial regulations
• Email Communications: Retained for 24 months after the last interaction
• Analytics Data: Aggregated and anonymized within 90 days of collection
• Support Tickets: Retained for 12 months after resolution

👤 7. Your Rights

Depending on your location, you may have the following rights regarding your personal data:

7.1 Access & Portability

You have the right to request a copy of the personal data we hold about you in a structured, machine-readable format.

7.2 Correction

You can update or correct inaccurate information in your account at any time through your account settings or by contacting us.

7.3 Deletion

You have the right to request deletion of your personal data. Upon deletion, your data will be removed from active systems within 30 days. Some information may be retained for legal or operational purposes.

7.4 Restriction & Objection

You can object to the processing of your data for certain purposes, including direct marketing and profiling.

7.5 Withdraw Consent

Where processing is based on consent, you may withdraw it at any time without affecting the lawfulness of processing before withdrawal.

7.6 How to Exercise Your Rights

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at privacy@dictionary.com or use our Privacy Center. We will respond to your request within 30 days.

🧒 8. Children's Privacy

Dictionary is committed to protecting the privacy of children. Our services are not directed to children under the age of 13 (or the applicable age in your jurisdiction).

• We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13
• If we discover we have collected data from a child without parental consent, we will delete it promptly
• Parents who believe their child has provided us with personal data should contact us at privacy@dictionary.com
• For users aged 13–17, parental consent is required for certain features

🌍 9. International Data Transfers

Your information may be transferred to, processed, and stored in countries other than your country of residence. These countries may have data protection laws that differ from your jurisdiction.

Dictionary ensures appropriate safeguards are in place for any international data transfers, including:

• Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) approved by the European Commission
• adequacy decisions where applicable
• Binding Corporate Rules for intra-group transfers
• Data processing agreements with all third-party recipients

📝 10. Updates to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors. When we make material changes:

1. We will post the updated policy on this page with a revised "Last updated" date
2. We will notify you via email at the address associated with your account
3. We may display a prominent notice on our website or application for 30 days before the changes take effect

We encourage you to review this policy periodically. Continued use of our services after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

🏛️ 11. California Privacy Rights

Under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA), California residents have additional rights:

11.1 Right to Know

You may request information about the categories and specific pieces of personal information we have collected about you, the categories of sources, the business purpose for collection, and categories of third parties with whom we share your data.

11.2 Right to Delete

You may request deletion of personal information we have collected, subject to certain exceptions permitted by law.

11.3 Right to Opt-Out of Sale

We do not sell your personal information. If our practices change, we will comply with applicable opt-out requirements.

11.4 Right to Limit Use of Sensitive Data

You may limit the use of your sensitive personal information to purposes necessary to provide our services.

11.5 Non-Discrimination

We will not discriminate against you for exercising your CCPA/CPRA rights, including by denying services, charging different prices, or providing a different quality of service.

📞 12. Contact Us

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact our Data Protection Officer:

For EU residents, you also have the right to lodge a complaint with your local supervisory authority. The contact details for data protection authorities can be found at www.edpb.europa.eu.