How to Choose the Best Dictionaries API in 2026
There are 13 Dictionaries APIs in our directory. Of these, 4 require no authentication, making them ideal for quick prototyping. 4 are rated beginner-friendly.
Scores last tested: 2026-08-10
Quick Comparison: Top 10 Dictionaries APIs
Ranked by API Score. Measured means we called a real endpoint of that API; Est. means the score is derived from metadata because the endpoint could not be called without credentials. Discontinued APIs are excluded.
| Name | API Score | Auth | HTTPS | CORS | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free Dictionary | 96 A+ Measured | No Auth | ✓ | ? | Beginner |
| Lingua Robot | 77 B Est. | API Key | ✓ | ✓ | Intermediate |
| Words | 77 B Est. | API Key | ✓ | ? | Intermediate |
| Merriam-Webster | 72 B Est. | API Key | ✓ | ? | Intermediate |
| Synonyms | 72 B Est. | API Key | ✓ | ? | Intermediate |
| Wordnik | 72 B Est. | API Key | ✓ | ? | Intermediate |
| Chinese Character Web | 69 C Est. | No Auth | ✗ | ✗ | Beginner |
| Oxford | 69 C Est. | API Key | ✓ | ✗ | Intermediate |
| Chinese Text Project | 60 C Measured | No Auth | ✓ | ? | Beginner |
| Wiktionary | 49 D Measured | No Auth | ✓ | ✓ | Beginner |
Free Dictionaries APIs (No Auth)
These APIs require no API key or signup. Start using them immediately.
Chinese Character Web
⭐ Beginner's PickChinese Character Web is a free API providing definitions, stroke counts, and pronunciations for Chinese characters without requiring an API key.
Chinese Text Project
⭐ Beginner's PickChinese Text Project offers a free API to access a massive digital library of pre-modern Chinese texts, including classics like the Analects and Tao Te Ching.
Free Dictionary
Free Dictionary provides programmatic access to definitions, phonetics, pronounciations, parts of speech, examples, synonyms via REST API.
Wiktionary
⭐ Beginner's PickWiktionary's API gives free access to the entire collaboratively-edited dictionary, covering definitions, pronunciations, etymology, and translations for words in hundreds of languages.
Try It in 5 Minutes: Chinese Text Project
Quick implementation example using Chinese Text Project.
Using curl
curl "https://ctext.org/api.pl?if=en&op=gettext&urn=urn:cts:shicai:lunyu&format=json"
JavaScript
const url = "https://ctext.org/api.pl?if=en&op=gettext&urn=urn:cts:shicai:lunyu&format=json";
const response = await fetch(url);
if (!response.ok) throw new Error(`Request failed: ${response.status}`);
const data = await response.json();
console.log(data); New to APIs? Read our Getting Started Guide →
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Dictionaries APIs are available?
There are 13 Dictionaries APIs in our directory as of 2026.
Are there free Dictionaries APIs?
Yes, 4 Dictionaries APIs require no authentication and are completely free to use.
What is the easiest Dictionaries API to use?
Chinese Text Project is one of the easiest to get started with. It is rated as beginner-level and requires no authentication.
Do I need an API key for Dictionaries APIs?
It depends. 4 APIs need no authentication, 8 require an API key, and 0 use OAuth.