About Us | Merriam-Webster Unabridged

<!DOCTYPE html> <html lang="en" class="wf-loading"> <head> <meta http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" content="IE=edge,chrome=1"> <meta charset="utf-8"> <title>About Us | Merriam-Webster Unabridged</title> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width,initial-scale=1.0"> <meta name="description" content="Merriam-Webster is America's most trusted dictionary for over 150 years. Engage with our language learning products online or in print."> <link rel="canonical" href="https://unabridged.merriam-webster.com/info/about.html" /> <meta name="author" content="Merriam-Webster, Incorporated">  <script>(function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start': new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0], j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src= 'https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f); })(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-PVQ8QJPW');</script>   <link href="/vendor/bootstrap-3.2.0-dist/css/bootstrap.min.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" charset="utf-8" /> <link href="/vendor/font-awesome-4.0.3/css/font-awesome.min.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" charset="utf-8" /> <link href="/vendor/amodal_1.6.5/amodal.min.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" charset="utf-8" />  <link href="/css/shared/utils.0002.css" type="text/css" rel="Stylesheet" charset="utf-8" /> <link href="/css/shared/reusable.0003.css" type="text/css" rel="Stylesheet" charset="utf-8" />  <link href="/css/mwunabridged.css?v=2.15" rel="stylesheet" media="screen"> <link href="/css/responsive.css?v=2.15" rel="stylesheet" media="screen"> <link href="/css/print-definition.css?v=2.15" rel="stylesheet" media="print"> <link href="/css/compiled/main.css?v=2.15" rel="stylesheet" media="screen">  <link rel="shortcut icon" href="/favicon.ico"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon-precomposed" sizes="144x144" href="/images/ico/apple-touch-icon-144-precomposed.png"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon-precomposed" sizes="114x114" href="/images/ico/apple-touch-icon-114-precomposed.png"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon-precomposed" sizes="72x72" href="/images/ico/apple-touch-icon-72-precomposed.png"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon-precomposed" href="/images/ico/apple-touch-icon-57-precomposed.png">  <script src="/vendor/jquery.1.11.2/jquery-1.11.2.min.js"></script> <script src="/vendor/jquery-ui-1.8.21/jquery-ui-1.8.21.custom.min.js"></script> <script src="/vendor/jquery.cookie/jquery.cookie.js"></script> <script src="/vendor/modernizr.2.7.1/modernizr.custom.95871.js"></script> <script> const recaptchaEntScoreId = "6LcE9EMfAAAAABEvIUihKOE8ShqCm3TYm_MYU8m7"; const recaptchaEntActionName = "info"; </script> <script src="https://www.google.com/recaptcha/enterprise.js?render=6LcE9EMfAAAAABEvIUihKOE8ShqCm3TYm_MYU8m7"></script> <script> grecaptcha.enterprise.ready(function() { grecaptcha.enterprise.execute(recaptchaEntScoreId, {action: recaptchaEntActionName}).then(function(token) { //console.log('recaptcha executed. token = ', token, 'action =', recaptchaEntActionName); }); }); </script>  <script src="/vendor/requirejs.2.1.6/require.min.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> var vnd = '/vendor/'; requirejs.config({ enforceDefine: false, paths: { //mine AMDs //other AMDs (those I don't merge in - as they're updated independently) "jquery": vnd + 'jquery.1.11.2/jquery-1.11.2.min', "underscore": vnd + 'lodash_1.2.1/lodash.min', "jquery.event_drag": vnd + 'amodal_1.6.5/jquery.event.drag.min', "jquery.amodal": vnd + 'amodal_1.6.5/amodal.min', "jquery.blockui": vnd + 'blockui_2.6.6/jquery.blockUI', "spin_js": vnd + 'spin_js_2.0.1/spin.min', //non-AMDs "jquery.twboot": vnd + 'bootstrap-3.2.0-dist' + '/js/bootstrap.min', 'dfpTagApi': '//www.googletagservices.com/tag/js/gpt', "twitter": '//platform.twitter.com/widgets', "cct": vnd + 'cct_9.1.0' + '/cct.bundle', }, shim: { "jquery.twboot": ['jquery'], "jquery.event_drag": ['jquery'], "jquery.amodal": ['jquery.event_drag'] } }); </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/js/audio.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/js/wordclick.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/js/formsubmit.js"></script> <script>window.mwdata={"assetsDomain2":"https:\/\/merriam-webster.com\/assets","pronsDomain":"https:\/\/media.merriam-webster.com","env":"production","recaptchaEntScoreId":"6LcE9EMfAAAAABEvIUihKOE8ShqCm3TYm_MYU8m7"};</script>   <script>window.ONETRUSTDOMAIN = "unabridged";</script> <script defer src="https://www.merriam-webster.com/assets/mw/static/shared/mw-shared/js/onetrust/onetrust-v2.min.js"></script>  <script src="https://www.googleoptimize.com/optimize.js?id=OPT-WP8X495"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> // Handles submit events on the search bar. function onSubmitSearch (form) { // Get user's query. let queryTerm = form.searchTerm.value.replace(/^\s+|\s+$/g, ''); // Get the type of query we're dealing with. let queryType = form.fieldToSearch.value; // Get the reference being queried. let queryReference = form.ref.value; // Set the corresponding input's value. form[queryType].value = queryTerm; // Invalid query type. if (queryType != "word" && queryReference != "unabridged") return false; // This is just a standard headword search. if (queryType == "word" && queryTerm.trim() != '') { document.location = "/" + queryReference + "/" + encodeURIComponent(queryTerm); return false; } // Submitting a blank search. if (queryType == "word" && queryTerm.trim() == '') { document.location = "/"; return false; } return true; } // Handles reference selection events on the search bar. function onSelectSearchReference (elem) { // Get the form input values. let form = $(elem).parents('form').get(0); let reference = form.ref.value; let fieldToSearch = form.fieldToSearch; // Set the field to search to "Main Entry" and disable the control. if (reference != "unabridged") { fieldToSearch.value = "word"; $(fieldToSearch).addClass("disabled"); $(fieldToSearch).prop("disabled", true); // Enable the fieldToSearch component. } else { $(fieldToSearch).removeClass("disabled"); $(fieldToSearch).prop("disabled", false); } // Set the placeholder text. $(form.searchTerm).attr("placeholder", "Search the " + elem.options[elem.selectedIndex].text); return false; } </script> </head> <body class="page-secondary page-engagement">  <noscript><iframe src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-PVQ8QJPW" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe></noscript>   <div class="navbar navbar-fixed-top"> <div class="navbar-inner"> <div class="container"> <div class="navbar-row"> <div class="navbar-logo"> <a class="brand" href="/"> <span class="text">Merriam-Webster</span> <img src="/images/mw_on_dark.svg" class="svg" alt='Merriam-Webster logo for dark background' > </a> </div> <div class="header-brand"> <div class="header-subtitle hidden-xs hidden-sm">Britannica Digital Learning</div> <a class="header-link" href="/">Unabridged</a> </div> <div class="nav-links hidden-xs hidden-sm"> <ul class="nav-links-top"> <li> <img src="/images/white-arrow-15x10.png" class="nav-link-arrow" alt='right arrow icon'> <span class="nav-link-text">Welcome to the Unabridged!</span> </li> <li><a href="/info/about-the-unabridged.html" title="Learn More">Learn More</a></li> <li><a href="/subscriber/register" title="Subscription">Subscription</a></li> <li><a href="/subscriber/login" title="Log In">Log In</a></li> </ul> <ul class="nav-links-bottom"> <li data-id="advanced-search"><a href="/advanced-search.php">Advanced Search</a></li> <li data-id="word-of-the-day"><a href="/word-of-the-day/">Word of the Day</a></li> <li data-id="style-guide"><a href="/style-guide/">Style Guide</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="nav-links-menu hidden-md hidden-lg hidden-xl"> <a class="btn btn-navbar" data-toggle="collapse" data-target=".nav-links-collapse-menu"> <svg width="24px" height="20px" viewBox="0 0 24 20" version="1.1" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <g id="Menu" stroke="none" stroke-width="1" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"> <rect class="menu-rec" fill="#ffffff" x="0" y="0" width="24" height="3" rx="1.5"></rect> <rect class="menu-rec" fill="#ffffff" x="0" y="16" width="24" height="3" rx="1.5"></rect> <rect class="menu-rec" fill="#ffffff" x="0" y="8" width="24" height="3" rx="1.5"></rect> </g> </svg> </a> </div> </div> <div class="nav-links-collapse-menu collapse hidden-md hidden-lg hidden-xl"> <div class="list-group"> <div class="list-group-header">Account</div> <ul class="nav-links-group"> <li><a href="/subscriber/register" title="Subscription">Subscription</a></li> <li><a href="/subscriber/login" title="Log In">Log In</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="list-group"> <div class="list-group-header">Sections</div> <ul class="nav-links-group"> <li data-id="advanced-search"><a href="/advanced-search.php">Advanced Search</a></li> <li data-id="word-of-the-day"><a href="/word-of-the-day/">Word of the Day</a></li> <li data-id="style-guide"><a href="/style-guide/">Style Guide</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="list-group list-group-close"> <div class="close-button"> <a href="#" data-toggle="collapse" data-target=".nav-links-collapse-menu">[X] close</a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div>  <div id="main-content" class="container wrapper"> <div class="container"> <div class="page-container"> <div class="row clearfix">  <div class="page-content col-md-8"> <div class="main-search-bar"> <form id="search-bar-form" action="/advanced-search"> <input name="word" type="hidden" value="" /> <input name="dt" type="hidden" value="" /> <input name="date" type="hidden" value="" /> <input name="ety" type="hidden" value="" /> <input name="usg" type="hidden" value="" /> <input name="vi" type="hidden" value="" /> <input name="author" type="hidden" value="" /> <input name="syn" type="hidden" value="" /> <input name="cryp" type="hidden" value="" /> <input name="jum" type="hidden" value="" /> <input name="searchType" type="hidden" value="standard" /> <input name="submit" type="hidden" value="True" /> <div class="search"> <div class="search-field-input"> <input id="search-term" name="searchTerm" type="text" spellcheck="false" autocapitalize="none" placeholder="Search the Unabridged Dictionary" value="" /> <button aria-label="search"> <svg width="18px" height="19px" viewBox="0 0 26 29" version="1.1" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <g class="Search" stroke="none" stroke-width="1" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"> <g class="g-search-icon" transform="translate(1.000000, 1.000000)" fill="#CA0403" fill-rule="nonzero"> <path d="M17.5185815,17.4073633 L24.5896493,24.4784311 C24.9801736,24.8689554 24.9801736,25.5021204 24.5896493,25.8926447 L23.1754357,27.3068582 C22.7849114,27.6973825 22.1517464,27.6973825 21.7612221,27.3068582 L14.6901543,20.2357904 C14.29963,19.8452661 14.29963,19.2121011 14.6901543,18.8215769 L16.1043679,17.4073633 C16.4948922,17.016839 17.1280572,17.016839 17.5185815,17.4073633 Z M10.5,21 C4.70101013,21 0,16.2989899 0,10.5 C0,4.70101013 4.70101013,0 10.5,0 C16.2989899,0 21,4.70101013 21,10.5 C21,16.2989899 16.2989899,21 10.5,21 Z M10.5,18 C14.6421356,18 18,14.6421356 18,10.5 C18,6.35786438 14.6421356,3 10.5,3 C6.35786438,3 3,6.35786438 3,10.5 C3,14.6421356 6.35786438,18 10.5,18 Z" class="Oval"></path> </g> </g> </svg> </button> </div> </div> <div class="row options"> <div class="col-xs-6 col-sm-4 options-select options-select-ref"> <label for="ref">Reference</label> <select id="ref" name="ref" onchange="return onSelectSearchReference(this);"> <option selected="selected" value="unabridged">Unabridged Dictionary</option> <option value="collegiate">Collegiate Dictionary</option> <option value="thesaurus">Collegiate Thesaurus</option> <option value="medical">Medical Dictionary</option> </select> </div> <div class="col-xs-6 col-sm-4 options-select options-select-ct"> <label for="fieldToSearch">Content Type</label> <select id="fieldToSearch" name="fieldToSearch"> <option value="word">Main Entry</option> <option value="dt">Definition</option> <option value="date">Date</option> <option value="ety">Etymology</option> <option value="usg">Usage</option> <option value="vi">Examples</option> <option value="author">Author Quoted</option> <option value="syn">Synonym Paragraph</option> <option value="cryp">Cryptogram</option> <option value="jum">Anagram</option> </select> </div> <div class="col-xs-12 col-sm-4 additional-search-options-wrapper"> <div class="additional-search-options"> <a href="/advanced-search.php">Advanced Search</a> » </div> </div> </div> </form> </div>  <div class="well content-body">  <div class="page-head"> <h1>About Us</h1> <div class="page-intro-none"> </div> </div>   <div class="section"> <div class="section-content"> <p><strong>About Merriam-Webster</strong></p> <p>For more than 150 years, in print and now in digital media, Merriam-Webster has been America's leading and most trusted provider of language information. Each month, our Websites and apps offer guidance to tens of millions of visitors. In print, our publications include dictionaries for all ages, Merriam-Webster's Collegiate® Dictionary (among the best-selling books in American history), and newly published dictionaries for English language learners.</p> <p>All Merriam-Webster products and services are backed by the largest team of professional dictionary editors and writers in America, and one of the largest in the world. Headquartered in Springfield, Massachusetts, Merriam-Webster Inc. acquired the rights to revise and publish Noah Webster's dictionaries after the great American lexicographer's death in 1843. Other publishers use the name "Webster's," but only the name "Merriam-Webster" carries the quality and authority of a company backed by more than 180 years of accumulated knowledge and expertise.</p> </div> </div>  </div> </div>  <div class="sidebar col-md-4"> <div class="sidebar-inner"> <div class="section wod-sidebar" data-id="word-of-the-day"> <h2>Word of the Day</h2> <div class="section-content"> <div class="date">November 24, 2024</div> <dl class="word-of-the-day"> <dt><a href="/word-of-the-day/" class="word-of-the-day">lenient</a> <span class="pronounce"> <div class="play-pron btn" data-lang="en_us" data-dir="l" data-file="lenien03" title="Listen to the pronunciation of lenient"> <i class="icon-pronounce"></i> <span class="text">(audio pronunciation)</span> </div> </span> </dt> <dd> not harsh, severe, or strict <a href="/word-of-the-day/" class="more">more »</a> </dd> </dl> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div>   <div id="main-footer" class="container wrapper footer-oa"> <div class="container"> <div class="row clearfix"> <div class="col-md-12 column"> <section id="navbar-footer" class="row clearfix"> <div class="col-md-3 column"> <div class="panel panel-default"> <div class="panel-heading"> <h3 class="panel-title">About Merriam-Webster</h3> </div> <div class="panel-body"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li><a href="/" title="Home">Home</a></li> <li><a href="/info/about-the-unabridged.html" title="About the Unabridged">About the Unabridged</a></li> <li><a href="/info/site-help.html" title="Help">Help</a></li><li><a href="/info/about.html" title="Help">About Us</a></li> <li><a href="/subscriber/contact-ind">Contact Us</a></li> <li><a href="/info/privacy-policy.html">Privacy Policy</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <div class="col-md-3 column"> <div class="panel panel-default"> <div class="panel-heading"> <h3 class="panel-title">Account</h3> </div> <div class="panel-body"> <div class="section"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li><a href="/subscriber/my-account" title="My Account">My Account</a></li> <li><a href="/subscriber/login" title="Log In">Log In</a></li> <li><a href="/subscriber/register" title="Subscription">Subscription</a></li> <li><a href="/subscriber/password_reset" title="Password Recovery">Password Recovery</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="col-md-6 column"> <div class="panel panel-default"> <div class="panel-heading"> <h3 class="panel-title">Sections</h3> </div> <div class="panel-body"> <div class="row clearfix"> <div class="col-md-6 column"> <div class="section"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li><a href="/advanced-search.php" title="Advanced Search">Advanced Search</a></li> <li><a href="/word-of-the-day/" title="Word of the Day">Word of the Day</a></li> <li><a href="/style-guide/" title="Style Guide">Style Guide</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section id="copyright" class="row clearfix"> <div class="col-md-12 column"> <p><a href="/info/copyright.html">漏 2024 Merriam-Webster, Incorporated. All rights reserved.</a></p> </div> </section> </div> </div> </div> </div> <script src="/js/searchbar.js?v=1.92"></script> <script src="/vendor/bootstrap-3.2.0-dist/js/bootstrap.min.js"></script> <script src="/js/bootstrap.js?v=1.92"></script> <script src="/js/util.js?v=1.92"></script> <script src="/js/mwunabridged.js?v=1.92"></script> <script src="/js/fontsize.js?v=1.92"></script> <script src="/js/mainsearch.js?v=1.92"></script> <script src="/js/placeholdertext.js?v=1.92"></script> <script src="/js/resultsbox.js?v=1.92"></script> <script src="/js/customaccordions.js?v=1.92"></script> <script src="/js/carousels.js?v=1.92"></script> <script src="/js/customform.js?v=1.92"></script> <script src="/js/customtooltips.js?v=1.92"></script> <script src="/js/infobubble.js?v=1.92"></script> <script src="/js/wodsubscribe.js?v=1.92"></script> <![if !IE]> <script src="/js/viewport.js?v=1.92"></script> <![endif]> <script type="text/javascript"> // Initialize bootstrap. mw.bootstrap.init(); // Manually set the opacity on the search form so drop downs work on the Android. if ($('.android-legacy') !== null && $('.main-search') !== null) { //$('.main-search').css('opacity', '.9'); }; </script>  <script src="/js/load-mathjax.js" async></script>   <script> $(document).ready(function() { /* * IMPORTANT: * To test phone and tablet views on a desktop browser, deactivate * Modernizr script tag at the head of the document and uncomment the line below. * this will trick your desktop browser into thinking it is a phone. */ // $('html').removeClass('no-touch').addClass('touch'); }); </script>   </body> </html>

CINXE.COM

About Us | Merriam-Webster Unabridged