Dictionaries · head-to-head
Merriam-Webster vs Oxford
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary API returns JSON definitions, pronunciations, and audio from the publisher's own Collegiate Dictionary and Thesaurus, plus specialized editions covering medical, learner's, Spanish-English, and grade-banded school dictionaries, each requiring a separate free API key. Keys are issued under a strict non-commercial license capped at 1,000 queries/day/key; using the service in a commercial product requires a separately negotiated agreement with Merriam-Webster.
Oxford Dictionaries API (Oxford Languages) exposes definitions, translations, and lexical metadata sourced from Oxford University Press's own databases across dozens of languages, authenticated with an app ID/key pair from its developer portal. New accounts start on a free Sandbox tier that emulates the live API for evaluation before moving to paid production plans, with custom Enterprise licensing available from an annual per-language fee.
| Merriam-Webster | Oxford | |
|---|---|---|
| Authentication | API Key | API Key |
| Pricing | free | freemium |
| Formats | JSON | JSON |
| CORS | yes | no |
| HTTPS | Yes | Yes |
Merriam-Webster supports CORS, while Oxford doesn't — pick Merriam-Webster for direct browser calls.