The Best Dictionary Apps for Blogging on iPhone, iPad and Mac Computers
Discover the best dictionary apps for blogging on iPhone, iPad and Mac computers.
Just as many photographers believe the best camera is the one that’s always with you, I believe the best dictionary is the one that’s most accessible — whether you’re writing from a mobile, tablet or desktop computer.
Even though blogs should be written at a 9th-grade reading level, you still need a good dictionary to confirm the spelling of words, look up definitions, find synonyms, review usage and more. Having at least one dedicated dictionary for each device is an essential resource in the blogger’s toolbox.
In this post, I’m going to share the best dictionary apps for blogging on iPhone, iPad and Mac computers.
1. Dictionary
The Dictionary app on macOS is the default method I use to look up words when working on my computer. It comes preinstalled with the New Oxford American Dictionary in the U.S. and can be accessed in the stand-alone Dictionary app or from within other apps.
To look up definitions from within apps, use two fingers to click on a highlighted word in any app. Then, click Look Up [word] from the context menu. After that, a pop-over menu will appear with the dictionary and thesaurus.
Supported Devices
- Mac
Cost
- Free
Features
- Autocomplete
- Definitions, thesaurus and antonyms
- Example sentences
- IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet)
- Look up words and phrases from the Dictionary app or within other apps
- Multilingual and regional dictionaries
- Siri Knowledge
- Word origins
2. Look Up
Apple doesn’t provide a first-party dictionary app on iOS as it does on the Mac, but you can still access the built-in dictionary with Look Up.
Look Up comes preinstalled with the New Oxford American Dictionary in the U.S. and can be accessed while working in apps from the Edit Menu.
To look up definitions, tap to highlight a word. Then, tap Look Up. If you don’t see Look Up, tap the right arrow to navigate through the Edit Menu. Finally, tap the card to reveal more information.
Supported Devices
- iPhone
- iPad
- iPod touch
Cost
- Free
Features
- Definitions, thesaurus and antonyms
- Example sentences
- IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet)
- Look up words within other apps
- Multilingual and regional dictionaries
- Siri Knowledge
- Word origins
3. Dictionary.com
Dictionary.com is a comprehensive, feature-rich and well-designed free/premium app that offers compelling features. When I’m drafting posts on mobile and want to compare definitions or simply need a more powerful dictionary or thesaurus than Apple’s Look Up — Dictionary.com Pro is my go-to app.
Supported Devices
- Any Device (web app)
- iPhone
- iPad
- iPod touch
- Apple Watch (premium version only)
Cost
- Free: Offers in-app purchases
- Premium version: $3.99
Features
- Audio pronunciations
- Autocomplete
- Content Collections (Word Trends and Stories, Word of the Day, etc.
- Definitions, thesaurus and antonyms
- Favorite words
- Grammar tips
- IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet)
- Offline access
- Search history
- Share sheet
- Voice search
- Word origin
4. Merriam-Webster Dictionary
Merriam-Webster Dictionary is a comprehensive, feature-rich and well-designed free/premium app, but with fewer features and in-app purchase options than Dictionary.com. However, like Dictionary.com there’s also a freemium version called Merriam-Webster Dictionary Pro.
Supported Devices
- Any Device (web app)
- iPhone
- iPad
- iPod touch
- Apple Watch
Cost
- Free: Offers in-app purchases
- Premium version: $4.99
Features
- Acronyms and Abbreviations
- Audio Pronunciations
- Autocomplete
- Definitions, thesaurus and antonyms
- Example Sentences
- Favorite Words (iCloud Syncing)
- IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet)
- Offline Access
- Quick Definitions
- Search History
- Share Sheet
- Vocabulary-Building Quizzes
- Voice Search
- Word Origin
- Word of the Day
5. Google Search
While Google isn’t technically a dictionary, it’s handy to quickly check spellings and definitions. When I’m writing on my website or Medium, I often use Google Search instead of Apple’s Dictionary app because it’s faster and it’s also handy when macOS doesn’t recommend the correct spelling of a word or I need a quick definition.
Spellcheck
When I want to know how to spell a word like connoisseur, I type connos into the search bar. Google only needs the first couple of letters to begin autocompleting the query and that’s enough to confirm the correct spelling of a word.
Definitions
When I want to know the definition of a word like permalink, I type define permalink into the search bar. Google then provides the dictionary definition as the first result.
Final Thoughts
You just learned about the best dictionary apps for blogging on iPhone, iPad and Mac computers. Having a dedicated go-to dictionary for each device is an essential tool for blogging and will help to improve your productivity, vocabulary and spelling.
If you use any of the aforementioned free apps, consider purchasing the premium version to encourage continued development. After all, these dictionaries are inexpensive and worth the investment.
