Overview
Wordnik is a comprehensive English dictionary API offering definitions, pronunciations, example sentences, related words, and frequency data sourced from a large corpus of text. A free API key is available after creating a Wordnik account, with a generous request allowance for hobbyist projects. It is well-documented and a popular choice for vocabulary apps and word games.
Beginner Tip
The /word.json/{word}/definitions endpoint is the best starting point — it returns definitions from multiple sources in a simple array. Store your API key in an environment variable and pass it as the api_key query parameter on every request.
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
word The word this definition applies to. text The full definition text. partOfSpeech Part of speech for this definition (e.g., noun, verb, adjective). sourceDictionary The dictionary or source from which this definition was taken. exampleUses Example sentences showing the word used in context. Implementation Example
Calls a real endpoint of this API. Replace any placeholder credentials with your own key.
const url = "https://api.wordnik.com/v4/word.json/hello/definitions?limit=5&api_key=YOUR_API_KEY";
// 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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