Overview
The Oxford Dictionaries API provides access to the Oxford English Dictionary's extensive lexical data, including definitions, pronunciations, etymologies, and usage examples. It requires an API key and application ID obtained by registering for a developer account, with a free tier for prototyping. This is one of the most comprehensive English dictionary APIs available, trusted by academics and developers worldwide.
Beginner Tip
All requests require both an app_id and app_key passed as headers — unlike many APIs that use a single key. Start with the /entries endpoint to look up a word's definitions before exploring more advanced endpoints like /sentences or /translations.
Available Data
The kind of data this API exposes, based on its documentation. We could not call the endpoint to confirm the exact field names.
Example Response
Illustrative shape only — we were not able to call this endpoint (it requires credentials or exposes no public sample URL), so the fields below show the kind of data this API returns rather than a recorded response.
{
"word": "serendipity",
"phonetic": "/ˌsɛr.ənˈdɪp.ɪ.ti/",
"meanings": [
{
"partOfSpeech": "noun",
"definition": "The occurrence of events by chance in a happy way"
}
],
"synonyms": [
"luck",
"fortune",
"chance"
]
} Field Reference
id The word_id (lowercase headword) used to identify this dictionary entry. lexicalEntries List of lexical entries grouped by part of speech. pronunciations IPA transcription and audio file URL for the headword. senses Array of sense objects each containing definitions and example sentences. etymologies Word origin and historical development information. Implementation Example
Calls a real endpoint of this API. Replace any placeholder credentials with your own key.
const url = "https://od-api.oxforddictionaries.com/api/v2/entries/en-gb/hello";
// Replace headers or query params with the values required by this API.
const response = await fetch(url, {
headers: {
"X-API-Key": "YOUR_API_KEY"
}
});
if (!response.ok) throw new Error(`Request failed: ${response.status}`);
const data = await response.json();
console.log(data); What Can You Build?
Note: These code examples are AI-generated and unverified. Always refer to the official API documentation for accurate usage.
Common Errors & Troubleshooting
Generated guidance based on this API's documentation, not observed by us. Treat it as a starting point and check against the provider's own error reference.
Metadata Score Breakdown
Estimated from metadata — endpoint not independently tested
Metadata estimate · endpoint not independently tested
Technical Specifications
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