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Random House Webster's Pocket American Dictionary, Fifth Edition
This completely revised and updated edition covers over 40,000 updated entries, including hundreds of new words and definitions. Its pocket size and durable vinyl cover make it perfect for a backpack, purse, or briefcase.
- GenresReference
464 pages, Paperback
First published January 15, 1983
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November 19, 2025
This is about the fifth and last edition (2008), ISBN-10 0375722718, ISBN-13 978-0375722714.
Yes, it’s printed in a very small typeface.
Yes, you need glasses.
Yes, it lacks some words (“typeface” is obviously missing).
But one cannot ask too much from a dictionary of this size. It’s a pocket edition!
This is not Random House Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary (I still own the last CD-ROM edition).
This is not Random House Webster’s College Dictionary (I own its last “red” edition, 2000).
And yet, when a word is included, its major meanings are clearly and succinctly explained.
It’s so sad that Random House Reference had to die. Merriam-Webster’s large dictionaries have abysmal definitions. Random House Webster’s were the best!
Now, Merriam-Webster’s Pocket Dictionary (2015), ISBN-10 0877795304, ISBN-13 978-0877795308, is a worthwhile contender, and it even has words that Random House Webster’s Pocket American Dictionary lacks. But Merriam-Webster’s offers fewer meanings, such as two instead of seven for “romantic”!
Excerpt from Random House Webster’s Pocket American Dictionary (2008):
Excerpt from Merriam-Webster’s Pocket Dictionary (2015):
The punctuation with colons in M-W is pissing me off.
Yes, it’s printed in a very small typeface.
Yes, you need glasses.
Yes, it lacks some words (“typeface” is obviously missing).
But one cannot ask too much from a dictionary of this size. It’s a pocket edition!
This is not Random House Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary (I still own the last CD-ROM edition).
This is not Random House Webster’s College Dictionary (I own its last “red” edition, 2000).
And yet, when a word is included, its major meanings are clearly and succinctly explained.
It’s so sad that Random House Reference had to die. Merriam-Webster’s large dictionaries have abysmal definitions. Random House Webster’s were the best!
Now, Merriam-Webster’s Pocket Dictionary (2015), ISBN-10 0877795304, ISBN-13 978-0877795308, is a worthwhile contender, and it even has words that Random House Webster’s Pocket American Dictionary lacks. But Merriam-Webster’s offers fewer meanings, such as two instead of seven for “romantic”!
Excerpt from Random House Webster’s Pocket American Dictionary (2008):
romance n., v., -manced, -mancing.
—n. 1. a tale of heroic or marvelous exploits. 2. a colorful, fanciful quality. 3. a love affair.
—v.t. 4. too woo passionately.
Roman numerals n.pl. numbers using letters as symbols: I = 1, V = 5, X = 10, L = 50, C = 100, D = 500, M = 1,000.
romantic adj 1. of romance. 2. impractical or unrealistic. 3. imbued with idealism. 4. preoccupied with love. 5. passionate; fervent. 6. of a style of art: stressing imagination and emotion.
—n. 7. a romantic person.
Excerpt from Merriam-Webster’s Pocket Dictionary (2015):
romance n 1 : medieval tale of knightly adventure 2 : love story 3 : love affair ~ vb -manced; -mancing 1 : have romantic fancies 2 : have a love affair with — romancer n
romantic adj 1 : visionary or imaginative 2 : appealing to one’s emotions — romantically adv
The punctuation with colons in M-W is pissing me off.
Displaying 1 of 1 review