Name: English Dictionary API: Definitions, Synonyms, Rhymes
Brand: tidydata
SKU: api-tidydata-english-dictionary
Availability: InStock
Author: API Market

TidyData

# English Dictionary API

## Overview

The English Dictionary API covers 147,000 English words through five GET endpoints. /v1/dictionary/{word} is the full entry: pronunciation in ARPAbet and IPA, syllable count, parts of speech, and a list of meanings, each with its part of speech, definition, usage examples, synonyms, antonyms and broader terms, plus combined synonym, antonym and rhyme lists for the word. The other endpoints focus on one job each: /synonyms/{word} and /antonyms/{word} return the full lists and group them by meaning, /rhymes/{word} returns perfect rhymes with the word's pronunciation and syllables, and /search returns words that start with a prefix for autocomplete.

It is aimed at developers of writing and word game apps, songwriting and poetry tools, education and language learning products, chatbots and SEO or copywriting tools that need structured word data. Meanings are ordered by how common they are, and inflected forms such as running or cities resolve to their base word. Definitions and relations come from WordNet 3.0 (Princeton University) and pronunciations from the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary, with about 126,000 words carrying pronunciation data. Buyers only need the x-api-market-key header.

## Features

*   **5 endpoints**: Full word entry, synonyms, antonyms, rhymes and prefix autocomplete.
*   **Rich meanings**: Each meaning has part of speech, definition, usage examples, synonyms, antonyms and broader terms.
*   **Pronunciation**: IPA and ARPAbet pronunciation plus syllable count for about 126,000 words.
*   **Filters and limits**: Filter meanings by pos (noun, verb, adjective, adverb) and cap meanings (1 to 50), rhymes (1 to 60) or autocomplete results (1 to 100).
*   **Grouped relations**: Synonym and antonym endpoints return both a flat list and a byMeaning breakdown.
*   **Inflection handling**: Inflected forms like running or cities resolve to the base word automatically.
*   **10 requests per second**: All plans allow up to 10 requests per second, fast enough for live autocomplete.

## Use Cases

*   **Writing and editing tools**: Editors and copywriting apps can offer definitions and synonyms grouped by sense.
*   **Songwriting and poetry apps**: Lyric and poetry tools can suggest rhymes and show syllable counts.
*   **Word games**: Crossword, Scrabble style and word puzzle apps can validate words and power hints with prefix search.
*   **Language learning**: Education apps can show definitions, example sentences and IPA pronunciation to learners.
*   **Chatbots and assistants**: Bots can answer what a word means or suggest an opposite with a single call.

## API Documentation

### Base URL

All requests go through the API.market gateway at this base URL:

```
https://prod.api.market/api/v1/tidydata/english-dictionary
```

### Authentication

Every request needs your API.market key in the `x-api-market-key` header:

```
x-api-market-key: YOUR_API_KEY
```

Replace `YOUR_API_KEY` with your actual API key.

### Endpoints

#### 1. Get word definitions

Returns the full entry for a word: pronunciation, syllables, parts of speech and meanings with examples, synonyms, antonyms and broader terms, plus rhymes. Use pos to keep one part of speech and limit to cap the number of meanings.

**Method:** `GET`

**Endpoint:** `/v1/dictionary/{word}`

**Parameters:**

| Name | In | Description | Type | Required | Default | Max Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| `word` | path | English word | string | Yes | - | - |
| `pos` | query | Optional filter: noun, verb, adjective, adverb | string | No | - | - |
| `limit` | query | Max meanings 1-50 | string | No | - | - |

**Example Request:**

```bash
curl -X GET "https://prod.api.market/api/v1/tidydata/english-dictionary/v1/dictionary/happy?pos=&limit=20" \
  -H "x-api-market-key: YOUR_API_KEY"
```

**Example Response (200 OK, abridged):**

```json
{
  "word": "happy",
  "pronunciation": {
    "arpabet": "HH AE1 P IY0",
    "ipa": "hˈæpi"
  },
  "syllables": 2,
  "partsOfSpeech": [
    "adjective"
  ],
  "meaningsCount": 4,
  "meanings": [
    {
      "partOfSpeech": "adjective",
      "definition": "enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure",
      "examples": [
        "a happy smile",
        "spent many happy days on the beach",
        "a happy marriage"
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        "blessed",
        "blissful",
        "bright"
      ],
      "antonyms": [
        "unhappy"
      ],
      "broaderTerms": []
    },
    {
      "partOfSpeech": "adjective",
      "definition": "marked by good fortune",
      "examples": [
        "a felicitous life",
        "a happy outcome"
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        "felicitous",
        "fortunate"
      ],
      "antonyms": [],
      "broaderTerms": []
    },
    {
      "partOfSpeech": "adjective",
      "definition": "eagerly disposed to act or to be of service",
      "examples": [
        "glad to help"
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        "glad",
        "willing"
      ],
      "antonyms": [],
      "broaderTerms": []
    }
  ],
  "synonyms": [
    "blessed",
    "blissful",
    "bright"
  ],
  "antonyms": [
    "unhappy"
  ],
  "rhymes": [
    "snappy",
    "unhappy",
    "slaphappy"
  ],
  "notice": "WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University (https://wordnet.princeton.edu/license-and-commercial-use). Pronunciations: CMU Pronouncing Dictionary."
}
```

#### 2. Get synonyms

Returns every synonym of the word in one list and also grouped by meaning, with the part of speech and definition for each group.

**Method:** `GET`

**Endpoint:** `/v1/dictionary/synonyms/{word}`

**Parameters:**

| Name | In | Description | Type | Required | Default | Max Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| `word` | path | English word | string | Yes | - | - |

**Example Request:**

```bash
curl -X GET "https://prod.api.market/api/v1/tidydata/english-dictionary/v1/dictionary/synonyms/big" \
  -H "x-api-market-key: YOUR_API_KEY"
```

**Example Response (200 OK, abridged):**

```json
{
  "word": "big",
  "synonyms": [
    "large",
    "ample",
    "astronomic"
  ],
  "byMeaning": [
    {
      "partOfSpeech": "adjective",
      "definition": "above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent",
      "synonyms": [
        "large",
        "ample",
        "astronomic"
      ]
    },
    {
      "partOfSpeech": "adjective",
      "definition": "significant",
      "synonyms": [
        "important"
      ]
    },
    {
      "partOfSpeech": "adjective",
      "definition": "very intense",
      "synonyms": [
        "bad",
        "intense"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "notice": "WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University (https://wordnet.princeton.edu/license-and-commercial-use). Pronunciations: CMU Pronouncing Dictionary."
}
```

#### 3. Get antonyms

Returns the word's antonyms as a flat list and grouped by meaning, so you can see which sense each opposite belongs to.

**Method:** `GET`

**Endpoint:** `/v1/dictionary/antonyms/{word}`

**Parameters:**

| Name | In | Description | Type | Required | Default | Max Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| `word` | path | English word | string | Yes | - | - |

**Example Request:**

```bash
curl -X GET "https://prod.api.market/api/v1/tidydata/english-dictionary/v1/dictionary/antonyms/good" \
  -H "x-api-market-key: YOUR_API_KEY"
```

**Example Response (200 OK, abridged):**

```json
{
  "word": "good",
  "antonyms": [
    "bad",
    "evil"
  ],
  "byMeaning": [
    {
      "partOfSpeech": "adjective",
      "definition": "having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified",
      "antonyms": [
        "bad"
      ]
    },
    {
      "partOfSpeech": "adjective",
      "definition": "morally admirable",
      "antonyms": [
        "evil"
      ]
    },
    {
      "partOfSpeech": "noun",
      "definition": "moral excellence or admirableness",
      "antonyms": [
        "evil"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "notice": "WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University (https://wordnet.princeton.edu/license-and-commercial-use). Pronunciations: CMU Pronouncing Dictionary."
}
```

#### 4. Get rhymes

Returns perfect rhymes for the word, common words first, along with its IPA and ARPAbet pronunciation and syllable count. Use limit (1 to 60) to cap results.

**Method:** `GET`

**Endpoint:** `/v1/dictionary/rhymes/{word}`

**Parameters:**

| Name | In | Description | Type | Required | Default | Max Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| `word` | path | English word | string | Yes | - | - |
| `limit` | query | Max rhymes 1-60 | string | No | - | - |

**Example Request:**

```bash
curl -X GET "https://prod.api.market/api/v1/tidydata/english-dictionary/v1/dictionary/rhymes/love?limit=30" \
  -H "x-api-market-key: YOUR_API_KEY"
```

**Example Response (200 OK, abridged):**

```json
{
  "word": "love",
  "pronunciation": {
    "arpabet": "L AH1 V",
    "ipa": "lˈʌv"
  },
  "syllables": 1,
  "rhymes": [
    "dove",
    "above",
    "shove"
  ],
  "notice": "WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University (https://wordnet.princeton.edu/license-and-commercial-use). Pronunciations: CMU Pronouncing Dictionary."
}
```

#### 5. Autocomplete by prefix

Returns words and phrases that start with the prefix you pass (at least 2 letters), up to limit results. Use it for search boxes and word game hints.

**Method:** `GET`

**Endpoint:** `/v1/dictionary/search`

**Parameters:**

| Name | In | Description | Type | Required | Default | Max Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| `prefix` | query | At least 2 letters | string | Yes | - | - |
| `limit` | query | 1-100 | string | No | - | - |

**Example Request:**

```bash
curl -X GET "https://prod.api.market/api/v1/tidydata/english-dictionary/v1/dictionary/search?prefix=photo&limit=20" \
  -H "x-api-market-key: YOUR_API_KEY"
```

**Example Response (200 OK, abridged):**

```json
{
  "prefix": "photo",
  "count": 20,
  "words": [
    "photo",
    "photon",
    "photo op"
  ]
}
```

## Status Codes

| Code | Status | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 200 | OK | The request succeeded and the result is in the response body. |
| 400 | Bad Request | A required parameter is missing or a value is invalid. The body explains the problem. |
| 401 | Unauthorized | The `x-api-market-key` header is missing, invalid or expired. |
| 403 | Forbidden | Your subscription does not include this endpoint. |
| 404 | Not Found | The requested item or path does not exist. |
| 429 | Too Many Requests | You went over 10 requests per second or used up your plan quota. |
| 500 | Internal Server Error | Something failed while processing the request. Retry after a short delay. |

## Rate Limits

Every plan allows 10 requests per second. The Pro plan includes 25,000 calls a month and the Ultra plan 150,000; when a monthly quota is used up, further calls return `429 Too Many Requests` until the next billing period. The pay-as-you-go plan has no quota and bills US$0.0005 per successful call. If you receive a `429`, back off before retrying and honour any `Retry-After` header.

## FAQ

**What is the difference between the main entry and the synonyms endpoint?**

The main entry shows synonyms per meaning and a short combined list. /v1/dictionary/synonyms/{word} returns every synonym in one list plus a byMeaning breakdown, which is better when you only need synonyms.

**Can I filter definitions by part of speech?**

Yes. Pass pos=noun, verb, adjective or adverb to /v1/dictionary/{word}. Use limit (1 to 50) to cap the number of meanings returned.

**Why do some rhymes look like names or rare words?**

Rhymes are based on the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary, which includes proper nouns and uncommon words. Results are ordered with common words first, so the top of the list is usually the most useful. Use limit (1 to 60) to keep only the top rhymes.

**Does autocomplete include multi word phrases?**

Yes. Prefix search can return phrases such as photo op or photo finish alongside single words. The prefix must be at least 2 letters and limit can be 1 to 100.

**Where does the data come from, and is attribution required?**

Definitions and word relations come from WordNet 3.0 by Princeton University and pronunciations from the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. Responses include a notice field with the WordNet copyright and license link.

**How much does it cost?**

There is no free plan. Pay as you go costs US$0.0005 per call with no monthly fee. Pro is US$4.99 per month for 25,000 calls and Ultra is US$14.99 per month for 150,000 calls. Every plan allows 10 requests per second.

## Contact Us

If you have any questions or need assistance, you can reach out to us through the embedded chat on the bottom right corner of the page or send an email to hello@magicapi.com.


English dictionary API with 147,000 words. Get definitions, examples, synonyms, antonyms, IPA pronunciation, syllables, rhymes and autocomplete.