Dictionary.com API: Define word
Looks up an English word on Dictionary.com and returns its pronunciation, audio link, numbered definitions per dialect with examples, word origin and first recorded use.
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Inputs
Values from the run on Oct 23, 2026, shown under Output.
- Word, required
word The English word to define, for example serendipity.
serendipity
Input as JSON
{ "word": "serendipity"}Output
{ "word": "serendipity", "meanings": [ { "dialect": "American", "definitions": [ { "number": 1, "definition": "an aptitude for making desirable discoveries by accident.", "example_sentences": [] }, { "number": 2, "definition": "accidental discovery, or an instance of this.", "example_sentences": [ "Alton’s premiere novel was a serendipity that affected my thinking in the most positive way." ] }, { "number": 3, "definition": "good fortune; luck.", "example_sentences": [ "What serendipity—she got the first job she applied for!" ] } ], "part_of_speech": "noun" }, { "dialect": "British", "definitions": [ { "number": 1, "definition": "the faculty of making fortunate discoveries by accident", "example_sentences": [] } ], "part_of_speech": "noun" } ], "page_link": "https://www.dictionary.com/browse/serendipity" , "audio_link": "https://audio.dictionary.com/tts/s/serendipity/serendipity-DyKtdD.mp3" , "word_origin": "Serendip + -ity; coined in 1754 by English novelist Horace Walpole ( def. ) for an ability possessed by the heroes of a fairy tale called The Three Princes of Serendip, using a former name for Sri Lanka", "pronunciation": { "ipa": "/ ˌsɛr ənˈdɪp ɪ ti /", "phonetic_spelling": "[ser-uhn-dip-i-tee]" }, "first_recorded_use": null}Code
curl https://api.fous.com/v1/runs \ -H "Authorization: Bearer $FOUS_API_KEY" \ -H "Content-Type: application/json" \ -d '{"method":"dictionary.com/define_word","input":{"word":"serendipity"}}' # Save as fous.py, then run: python3 fous.pyimport json, os, timefrom urllib.error import HTTPErrorfrom urllib.request import Request, urlopenAPI = "https://api.fous.com/v1/runs" KEY = os.environ["FOUS_API_KEY"]HEADERS = { "Authorization": f"Bearer {KEY}", "Content-Type": "application/json" ,}def call(url, body=None): data = json.dumps(body).encode() if body else None request = Request(url, data, HEADERS) try: with urlopen(request, timeout=120) as r: return r.status, json.load(r) except HTTPError as error: message = json.load(error)["error"]["message"] raise RuntimeError(message) from errorstatus, run = call(API, { "method": "dictionary.com/define_word" , "input": { "word": "serendipity" }})# 202: still going after 30 s. Ask again until it ends.while status == 202: time.sleep(2) status, run = call(f"{API}/{run['id']}")print(json.dumps(run["data"], indent=2))// Save as fous.mjs, then run: node fous.mjsconst api = "https://api.fous.com/v1/runs" ;const headers = { Authorization: `Bearer ${process.env.FOUS_API_KEY}`, "Content-Type": "application/json" ,};let response = await fetch(api, { method: "POST", headers, body: JSON.stringify({ "method": "dictionary.com/define_word" , "input": { "word": "serendipity" } }), signal: AbortSignal.timeout(120_000),});let run = await response.json();// 202: still going after 30 s. Ask again until it ends.while (response.status === 202) { await new Promise((done) => setTimeout(done, 2_000)); response = await fetch(`${api}/${run.id}`, { headers }); run = await response.json();}if (!response.ok) throw new Error(run.error.message);console.log(run.data);# Connect your agent to Fous once, over MCP (Streamable HTTP):# https://api.fous.com/mcp# Set FOUS_API_KEY first: create a key at https://app.fous.com/keys.# Claude Codeclaude mcp add \ --scope user \ --transport http fous https://api.fous.com/mcp \ --header "Authorization: Bearer ${FOUS_API_KEY:?Set FOUS_API_KEY to your Fous API key}"# Codexcodex mcp add fous \ --url https://api.fous.com/mcp \ --bearer-token-env-var FOUS_API_KEY# Cursor, VS Code, Windsurf, Cline and morenpx -y add-mcp https://api.fous.com/mcp -g -n fous \ --header "Authorization: Bearer ${FOUS_API_KEY:?Set FOUS_API_KEY to your Fous API key}"# Then ask your agent:# "Use Fous to run dictionary.com/define_word# with {"word":"serendipity"}"Over HTTP, the answer’s data holds the output. A run still going after 30 seconds answers 202 with its id: ask GET /v1/runs/{id} until it ends.
Schema
Input schema
{ "type": "object", "required": [ "word" ], "properties": { "word": { "type": "string", "description": "The English word to define, for example serendipity." } }}Output schema
{ "type": "object", "required": [ "word", "pronunciation", "audio_link", "meanings", "word_origin", "first_recorded_use", "page_link" ], "properties": { "word": { "type": "string", "description": "The headword on the page." }, "meanings": { "type": "array", "items": { "type": "object", "required": [ "dialect", "part_of_speech", "definitions" ], "properties": { "dialect": { "type": "string", "description": "American or British entry." }, "definitions": { "type": "array", "items": { "type": "object", "required": [ "number", "definition", "example_sentences" ], "properties": { "number": { "type": "integer" }, "definition": { "type": "string" }, "example_sentences": { "type": "array", "items": { "type": "string" } } }, "additionalProperties": false } }, "part_of_speech": { "type": "string" } }, "additionalProperties": false } }, "page_link": { "type": "string" }, "audio_link": { "type": [ "string", "null" ], "description": "Link to the spoken pronunciation." }, "word_origin": { "type": [ "string", "null" ], "description": "Etymology as plain text." }, "pronunciation": { "type": "object", "required": [ "phonetic_spelling", "ipa" ], "properties": { "ipa": { "type": [ "string", "null" ] }, "phonetic_spelling": { "type": [ "string", "null" ] } }, "additionalProperties": false }, "first_recorded_use": { "type": [ "string", "null" ], "description": "First recorded date or period as shown." } }, "additionalProperties": false}- Price
- 1 credit per completed run (1¢ with pay as you go); failed runs are free.
- Method
dictionary.com/define_word- Returns
- word, pronunciation, audio link, meanings with definitions and examples, word origin, first recorded use, page link
Use it from your agent
Give your agent this line. It reads SKILL.md, gets a Fous API key and connects the Fous MCP server. Its run then takes the method dictionary.com/define_word with the inputs above.
Ask your agent
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- Give me the numbered definitions of melancholy, with usage examples for each sense.
- Look up the word tenacious on dictionary.com and send me its meanings, origin, and a link to the page.
See more
All Dictionary.com methodsGets a word's Thesaurus.com meanings in site order, with part of speech, short meaning, synonyms and antonyms ranked strongest, strong or weak.
dictionary.com/get_synonymsLooks up a word or phrase in Merriam-Webster's dictionary and returns its pronunciation, definitions, examples and word history.
merriam-webster.com/define_wordLooks up a word or phrase on Cambridge Dictionary and returns its ordered meanings, example sentences, grammar labels and UK and US pronunciations.
dictionary.cambridge.org/define_wordLooks up a word on its public Merriam-Webster thesaurus page and returns each meaning with its example, synonyms, antonyms and related words.
merriam-webster.com/get_synonymsLooks up an English word on Etymonline and returns its origin entries, one per part of speech, with the first date mentioned and cross-referenced words.
etymonline.com/get_word_originGets Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for today or a past archive date, with its meaning, example, pronunciation and background note. Dates without a published entry are unavailable.
merriam-webster.com/get_word_of_the_dayTranslates a word or phrase between languages using WordReference, including usage notes, example sentences and compound forms when shown. Only language pairs listed by WordReference are available.
wordreference.com/translate_wordExplains a finance, business, or investing term using its Investopedia dictionary article.
investopedia.com/define_term